Ministry of Defence

Military Aircraft: Mediterranean Region

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many aircraft are deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and wider regional security.

James Heappey: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Military Aircraft: Mediterranean Region

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many surveillance flights have taken place as part of the UK deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and wider regional security.

James Heappey: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay: Mediterranean Region

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RFA (a) Argus and (b) Lyne Bay is in the Eastern Mediterranean.

James Heappey: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ukraine: Military Aid

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2023 to Question 197994 on Armed Forces: Weapons, whether he plans that £2.3 billion of UK military aid to Ukraine will be matched in the Autumn Statement for the 2024/25 financial year.

James Cartlidge: The UK government is committed to supporting Ukraine and the Department remains in close discussions with His Majesty’s Treasury on military support for Ukraine next year. The content of the Autumn Statement is a matter for the Treasury.

Ukraine: Military Aid

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions (a) he and (b) his predecessor held discussions with his counterparts in countries participating in the International Fund for Ukraine on the operation of that fund.

James Heappey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Israel: Arms Trade

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Government will cease the licensing of the export of (a) arms and (b) security equipment to Israel.

James Cartlidge: All applications for export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, and if extant licences are found to be no longer consistent with the Criteria, those licences will be revoked.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel work in accountancy roles in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Government Finance Function has developed a career framework for Civilian Finance personnel. Within the career framework, there is set taxonomy that states which roles require a qualification. Within the Civilian finance workforce, there are 257 civilians working in roles that require the Level 7 finance qualification, and a further 1582 civilians working in roles where the Finance qualification (Level 4 and Level 7) is recommended. The Civilian Finance workforce data is extracted from the Civilian HR system and analysed on a quarterly basis. Military data is not held in the format requested and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of girls under the age of 18 in the armed forces were victims of crimes under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022; and how many of these cases were dealt with by the (i) police and (ii) Royal Military police.

Dr Andrew Murrison: In the interests of protecting the anonymity of the victims of sexual offences, and to ensure that victims of sexual offences are not deterred from coming forward, I will not be providing the requested information. This is consistent with my answer to Question 182068 and Question 199692. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on cases dealt with by the civil police, as these organisations are not within the Department’s jurisdiction. Information on the number of victims of sexual offences is provided by year, broken down by age, and separately by gender, within the official annually published Murder, Manslaughter, Sexual Offences and Domestic Abuse in the Service Justice System statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system. The published figures for victims of sexual offences are based on investigations opened, and the most serious offence initially reported, not convictions. Not all investigations result in an arrest or a charge. Defence has made it clear there is zero tolerance to any form of sexual abuse.Zero tolerance means that every allegation of sexual offending or instructor/trainee sexual relationships will be acted upon through prompt, thorough, efficient and independent investigation. When a person is convicted of a sexual offence or an instructor is found to have engaged in a sexual relationship with a trainee, their discharge is mandatory.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel work in finance roles in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: On the 30 of September 2023, there were 2,942 civilian personnel working in finance roles in the Ministry of Defence. The Civilian Finance workforce data is extracted from the Civilian HR system and analysed on a quarterly basis.

Afghanistan: Refugees

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the longest outstanding Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy application is that is awaiting assessment by his Department.

James Heappey: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs of 19 September 2023 on Resettlement of Afghans, Official Report, column 1253, how many people from Afghanistan have waited more than two years for their ARAP applications to be processed; for what reason has there been a delay in applications; and how many people from Afghanistan were awaiting a decision on their application as of 19 October 2023.

James Heappey: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prime Minister: Sloane Helicopters

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September to Question 197420, which contract covered the provision of rotary wing command air transport by Sloane Helicopters for the Prime Minister’s visit to Clacton-on-Sea on 18 October 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Aviation: Prime Minister

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2023 to Question 197421 on Aviation: Prime Minister, how many domestic flights were provided to the Prime Minister on the Envoy aircraft of the RAF's Command Support Air Transport fleet between 5 September and 17 October 2023; and what the cost of each such flight was.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Aviation: Prime Minister

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2023 to Question 197420 on Aviation: Prime Minister, how many rotary-wing flights were provided by the RAF's Command Support Air Transport fleet to the Prime Minister between 5 September and 17 October 2023; and what the cost of each such flight was.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Aviation: Prime Minister

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2023 to Question 197421 on Aviation: Prime Minister, which plane was used by the Prime Minister to fly from Northolt to (a) Leeds on 9 January, (b) Blackpool on 19 January, (c) Newquay on 9 February, (d) RAF Leeming on 10 February, (e) Anglesey on 23 March and (f) Aberdeen on (i) 31 July and (ii) 2 September 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Aviation: Prime Minister

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2023 to Question 197421 on Aviation: Prime Minister, which taskings were completed on G-ZAHS in addition to flying the Prime Minister from Northolt to Inverness on 13 January and to Manchester on 3 April 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ministry of Defence: Reorganisation

Mr Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world, published 18 July 2023, what his Department's expected timeline is for publishing its Head Office reform plans.

James Heappey: The key aspects of the reforms to Head Office were included in the Defence Command Paper Refresh, paragraphs 25 to 31 in Chapter 4, published 18 July 2023. Plans for the reform of Head Office will be taken forward as part of Defence Design, a departmental-wide programme to optimise the Defence operating model.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel work in policy development roles in his Department.

Dr Andrew Murrison: This information is not held in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ukraine: Military Aid

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) direct and (b) indirect UK-based jobs that are being supported by funding from the International Fund for Ukraine.

James Cartlidge: The International Fund for Ukraine has placed nine contracts, worth over £127 million with either a UK supplier or involving UK sub-contractors. The Fund has supported a large number of UK-based jobs, and it is anticipated that further UK-based jobs will be supported when the contracts announced under the recent Maintenance and Manoeuvre Support packages are placed.The exact number of direct and indirect UK-based jobs that are being supported by funding from the IFU is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Contracts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average value was of single-source contracts placed by or for the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) British Army in 2023 to 24 October.

James Cartlidge: The average value of single-source contracts signed by Navy Command, Air Command and Army Command in financial year 2022-23 was £1.3 million, £0.5 million and £1.2 million respectively. Many contracts for equipment and services required by the three services are placed by dedicated delivery agencies. Such contracts are not included in the above figures.

Ministry of Defence: Contracts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many single-source contracts his Department is negotiating as of 24 October 2023.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence does not comment on contracts under negotiation. 1,030 new single source contracts were signed in Financial Year 2022-23, which is the last full year for which figures are available.

Defence Equipment & Support: Industrial Disputes

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 200792 on Defence Equipment & Support: Industrial Disputes, what the cost was of moving personnel to the Beith Defence Equipment & Support site during this year’s industrial action.

James Cartlidge: The cost of bringing qualified Defence Munitions personnel from other Defence Munition sites to continue to support continued operations during the industrial action was c. £32,500. This cost represents less than 20% of the total reduction in paybill that resulted from the unpaid days from those taking industrial action.

HMS Audacious

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Audacious will enter dry dock for maintenance.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long he plans that the maintenance period of HMS Audacious will last.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he pans that HMS Audacious will return to service.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department made of the material condition of HMS Audacious.

James Cartlidge: I am pleased to confirm that the Royal Navy (RN) is meeting all its operational commitments, and will continue to ensure we have the workforce, support arrangements and facilities required to maintain availability in the future. As the right hon. Member will understand, for operational security reasons we do not comment on the availability or material state of RN submarines.

Royal Navy: Cleaning Services

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many laundrymen (a) directly and (b) indirectly employed by the Royal Navy are from (i) China and (ii) Hong Kong.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Royal Navy contracts its laundry services to NAAFI who are responsible for the employment of all of our laundrymen. There are currently less than ten laundrymen serving in Royal Navy vessels and all of them are from Hong Kong.

Syria: Military Bases

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of Iranian military facilities established in Syria.

James Heappey: The UK has long made clear our apprehension towards Iran's reckless and destabilising activity in Syria. Iran's support to militant and proscribed groups, including potentially more permanent Iranian military bases, directly counters UK interests. The Ministry of Defence continues to maintain thorough assessments of the threats to stability and security across the Middle East region including Syria. The Government is also committed to working with the international community to ensure Iran and the regime are held to account for their destabilising activity in Syria.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Western Sahara: Human Rights

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Western Sahara; and what steps he is taking to help promote the need for accountability for assaults against Sahrawi human rights defenders.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Western Sahara: Climate Change

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to support people whose livelihoods have been affected by climate change in Western Sahara.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

USA: Sanctions

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the authorities in the US on that country’s sanctioning of Ali Karti and Aviatrade LLC.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Western Sahara: Refugees

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made for the potential implications for his policies of allegations of forced disappearances and degrading treatment of women Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara: Human Rights

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is his policy to support (a) a renewal of the UN Mission on Western Sahara and (b) the inclusion of a human rights component to that Mission.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Senegal: Civil Society

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to offer support to civil society organisations in Senegal for (a) election monitoring and (b) promoting democratic practices ahead of that country’s elections in 2024.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has separate qualifying criteria for entitlement to support for Afghan refugees who were employed (a) directly by the Government or British Council and (b) employed by an organisation funded by the Government or British Council.

Leo Docherty: Eligible at-risk Afghan Nationals, who were directly employed by the British Government and British Council, and those working for programmes funded by the British Government and British Council who supported the UK effort in Afghanistan, are both being considered for resettlement if they applied for the MOD-led Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme. The eligibility criteria for ARAP is set out on gov.uk. Any offer of resettlement will be contingent on security screening and provision of biometric information. We continue to work, including with likeminded partners and countries neighbouring Afghanistan, on resettlement issues and to support safe passage for eligible Afghans.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the Egyptian Government's decision to open the Egypt-Gazza Rafah crossing.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Israel

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the humanitarian implications of the Government of Israel’s evacuation order to Gaza civilians in the north of Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Armed Conflict

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on (a) the conflict in Gaza and (b) the level of violent activity in the West Bank.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza and Israel: Peace Negotiations

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of calling for a cessation of hostilities in Israel and Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Colombia: Peace Negotiations

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Colombian government’s recent initiation of a ceasefire and official peace talks with the EMC armed group.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza and Israel: Humanitarian Aid

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with aid agencies on the humanitarian situation in Israel and Gaza; and whether he has received representations from aid agencies expressing concern on international law being upheld during the conflict.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Health Services

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of attacks on healthcare facilities in (a) the occupied West Bank and (b) East Jerusalem since 7 October 2023.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Health Services

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department is taking to help ensure the protection of medical infrastructure in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Rafah crossing in Egypt to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on transporting aid from Israel to Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: British Nationals Abroad

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of British citizens in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hamas: Weapons

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral contribution on 18 October 2023 on Gaza: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital Explosion, column 341, whether he has had recent discussions with his EU counterparts on video footage of Hamas digging up EU-funded water pipes to help produce rockets.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Hospitals

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on people in Gaza; and if he will seek an independent investigation into that explosion.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hamas: Terrorism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to hold states that aid and abet Hamas terrorists to account in line with international law.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Borders

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on restoring the supply of (a) medicines and (b) fuel to Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Disasters Emergency Committee: Gaza

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Disasters Emergency Committee on the potential merits of establishing an appeal for Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Hostage Taking

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consular support his Department is providing to (a) hostages held in Gaza and (b) their families.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Middle East: Christianity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christians in (a) Lebanon and (b) other Middle Eastern countries.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the agreement on the delivery of aid to Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to people who have been displaced in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Internally Displaced People

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the needs of internally displaced people in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Israel: International Law

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held discussions with his counterpart in Israel on allegations of collective punishment in Gaza and compatibility with international law.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Case Study Israel/OPT: Identifying the Israeli army’s use of white phosphorus in Gaza, published by Amnesty International on 13 October 2023, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports of the use of white phosphorous by Israel.

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held discussions with his counterpart in Israel on the alleged use of white phosphorous and its compatibility with international law.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Death

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help prevent further civilian deaths in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much their Department spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-2023 financial year.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Nnamdi Kanu

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to Question 199965 on Nnamdi Kanu, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Opinion No. 25/2022 of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sudan: Visas

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with colleagues in the Home Department on support for evacuees from Sudan who are approaching the end of their six month compassionate dispensation visas.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Infrastructure

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK Government is clear that civilian infrastructure like schools, hospitals and shelters must be protected in conflict. The UK is calling for unimpeded humanitarian access so that essential aid can reach civilian populations in Gaza including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold international humanitarian law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law. Civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected. The Prime Minister, along with the Foreign Secretary, continues to engage regularly and closely with their Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the protection of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

Gaza: Health Services

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to help ensure the protection of healthcare workers in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access for lifesaving aid to reach civilians. This includes adequate volumes of food, water, fuel and medical supplies as a priority. The safety of civilians and humanitarian personnel is critical to enable aid to reach those who need it most.We strongly condemn all forms of violence and incitement to violence directed towards healthcare workers. The wounded and critically ill in Gaza and the West Bank should be able to access the urgent medical care they need. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the importance of this issue with the Israeli authorities.The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. The Prime Minister has announced £30 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services.

Palestinians: Civilians

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government' policies of the deaths of Palestinian civilians.

David Rutley: Since the beginning of the conflict and as of 22 October, 1,400 Israelis are reported killed and 4,941 wounded. 4,651 Palestinians are reported killed in Gaza and 91 in the West Bank. 14,245 are reported wounded in Gaza and 1,734 in the West Bank. More than 1,000 people have been reported missing and are presumed to be trapped or dead under the rubble. An estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza have been displaced, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.Any civilian death is a tragedy. Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost 20 countries, as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.

Hamas: Terrorism

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts at the Palestinian Authority on condemning Hamas‘s terrorist attack on 7 October 2023.

David Rutley: On 20 October the Prime Minister met the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, in Cairo. He expressed his deep condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, including the terrible destruction of the Al Ahli hospital. Both leaders agreed on the need for all parties to take steps to protect civilians, and civilian infrastructure, and minimise the loss of innocent lives. They condemned Hamas' terrorism and stressed that Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people.The Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, also continue to engage with the Palestinian Authority. We are deeply worried about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and are actively monitoring the situation. The UK Government remains committed to the two-state solution as the best way to bring peace and stability to the region and importantly between Israelis and Palestinians.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to arrange for the relocation of Afghan nationals eligible under the (a) Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and (b) Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to the UK from (i) Pakistan and (ii) Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Leo Docherty: HMG continues to welcome families to the UK under Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Government looks forward to bringing all remaining eligible individuals to the UK as soon as practicable. We know there is still a way to go to bring those eligible to safety in the UK, but we are committed to continuing to welcome eligible Afghans through ARAP and ACRS.

Gaza: Refugees

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held recent discussions with his (a) Egyptian counterpart and (b) other regional counterparts on allowing refugees from Gaza to (i) cross into Egypt and (ii) be provided with support in the region.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps with (a) international partners and (b) NGOs to establish refugee camps.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the United Nations on securing safe refugee facilities for refugees leaving Gaza.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he plans to take steps to to provide aid to Egypt to support refugees leaving Gaza.

David Rutley: Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution.The UK remains committed to the safety and security of those in Gaza. We are in regular contact with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on the full range of issues relating to conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), UN agencies and Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the OPTs and on 23 October a further £20 million in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground. We regularly discuss migration and treatment of refugees with partners, including through our embassies, and we remain committed to supporting them to manage this effectively.

Afghanistan: Visits Abroad

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) a Minister in his Department plans to visit Afghanistan.

Leo Docherty: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Drinking Water

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the level of access to drinking water in Gaza.

David Rutley: The available evidence indicates that immediate action is needed to prevent death and illness from lack of sufficient safe water. According to the United Nations, 50 per cent of water infrastructure has been destroyed or heavily damaged. The opening of the Rafah crossing to humanitarian traffic is insufficient to meet minimum requirements, and the bottled water carried by humanitarian convoys into Gaza is severely insufficient.The UK is calling for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies can reach civilian populations. On 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and on 23 October a further £20 million, in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies to provide essential relief items and services. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians.

Afghanistan: Terrorism

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of terrorist threat posed by extremist groups operating in Afghanistan.

Leo Docherty: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Afghanistan: Development Aid

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support people in Afghanistan in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Leo Docherty: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the blockade on Gaza on the ability of aid agencies to deliver essential humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. He most recently spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, on 23 October. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for International Humanitarian Law to be respected, while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the safety of humanitarian workers in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access for lifesaving aid to reach civilians. This includes adequate volumes of food, water, fuel and medical supplies as a priority. The safety of civilians and humanitarian personnel is critical to enable aid to reach those who need it most.We strongly condemn all forms of violence and incitement to violence directed towards healthcare workers. The wounded and critically ill in Gaza and the West Bank should be able to access the urgent medical care they need. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the importance of this issue with the Israeli authorities.The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. The Prime Minister has announced £30 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services.

Israel: Palestinians

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held recent discussions with his UN counterparts on the potential merits of issuing a new resolution on the war in Israel and Palestine.

David Rutley: Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution. The Foreign Secretary has discussed the conflict with the UN Secretary General. The UK Government is actively monitoring the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and we maintain regular dialogue with international counterparts. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.

Gaza: Civilians

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in Israel on the potential merits of rescinding the order for people in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south of the Gaza strip.

David Rutley: The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.

Iran: Christianity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to support persecuted Christians in Iran.

David Rutley: The UK is an active member of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, which is currently chaired by the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Fiona Bruce MP. In July 2022, we hosted the last International Ministerial Conference on FoRB in London, during which the situation of religious minorities in Iran was discussed as a priority. Iran has a record of discrimination, harassment and targeting of minority religious and ethnic communities. We raise these issues at all appropriate opportunities with Iran and in international fora, and we continue to work with the international community to press Iran to improve its dire human rights record.

Gaza: Health Services

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the impact of damage to health facilities in Gaza on their capacity to meet the needs of the civilian population.

David Rutley: The UK Government is clear that civilian infrastructure like schools, hospitals and shelters must be protected in conflict. The UK is calling for unimpeded humanitarian access so that essential aid can reach civilian populations in Gaza including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected. The Prime Minister, along with the Foreign Secretary, continues to engage regularly and closely with their Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the protection of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

Gaza and Israel: Civilians

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of civilians during the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling on all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law in all its aspects. In his conversations with the Israeli Prime Minister, the Prime Minister has underscored the UK's firm belief in Israel's right to self-defence, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.The UK Government has authorised the sending of a significant support package to the region, UK military assets will support regional stability and prevent escalation. On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and on 23 October a further £20 million, in response to the escalating conflict. We will continue to work with our regional partners so that essential aid can reach civilian populations in Gaza, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies.

Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the humanitarian implications of the Israeli government's evacuation order to civilians in the north of Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold international humanitarian law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.

Israel: British Nationals Abroad

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals from (a) Israel and (b) Gaza.

David Rutley: My [Minister Rutley] thoughts are with those families who are facing unimaginable uncertainty and fear because of these despicable attacks and kidnappings. This is a fast-moving situation, and we are not commenting on individual consular cases. The safety of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority. We are using all the tools available to us in our diplomatic toolkit to maximise our chances of bringing innocent British nationals back home to their loved ones. The Foreign Secretary is working with his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts, along with international partners to establish a safe passage for British nationals out of Gaza.British Nationals in need of help should contact +972 (0)3 725 1222 or +972 (2) 5414100. If they experience technical difficulties or if they are in the UK, call +44 20 7008 5000. British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, are advised to register their presence with the FCDO.https://www.register.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/israel-20231009/tell-the-uk-government-youre-in-israel-or-the-occupied-palestinian-territorieshttps://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel

Colombia: Peace Negotiations

Kim Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implication for his policies of the three-month ceasefire announced as part of peace negotiations in Colombia.

David Rutley: Through our role as penholder at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UK works closely with international partners to support the peace process in Colombia. During the most recent UNSC meeting on 11 October, the UK and various Council members reiterated their commitment to support implementation of the 2016 peace agreement as the central peace policy in Colombia. At the UNSC session, the UK welcomed the progress made by the Colombian Government to engage with the former FARC-EP that identifies itself as the Estado Mayor Central (EMC). As the second largest UN Trust Fund donor, the UK continues to be a leading advocate in support of Colombia's peace process and supports the work of the UN Verification Mission.

Gaza: International Criminal Court

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) provide adequate resources and (b) other support to the International Criminal Court for its investigation into the situation in Palestine.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Israel: Palestinians

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court's statement of 10 October 2023 on the ICC mandate into the Israel-Palestine Conflict in October 2023.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza and Israel: Peace Negotiations

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of calling for a cessation of hostilities in Israel and Gaza.

David Rutley: Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution. The UK Government is actively monitoring the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and we maintain regular dialogue with international counterparts. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.

Gaza: Civilians

Antony Higginbotham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the accessibility of the safe-routes announced by Israel for the evacuation of northern Gaza.

David Rutley: The Government is calling for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access for aid, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, to reach civilians in Gaza. We urge all parties in the conflict to protect civilians, provide safe spaces and comply with International Humanitarian Law. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have pushed for agreements on ongoing humanitarian access to Gaza in meetings with their counterparts in Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Palestinian Authority. We have worked with partners to see the Rafah crossing opened and are now urging Israel to open additional border crossings. We are also pushing for the release of British hostages and foreign nationals and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza.

Colombia: Christianity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help persecuted Christians in Colombia.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Israel and Palestinians: Refugees

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his international counterparts on establishing a single international system for supporting refugees from (a) Israel and (b) Palestine.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK remains committed to the safety and security of those in Gaza. We are in regular contact with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on the full range of issues relating to conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Gaza

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the compliance with international humanitarian of Israeli Defence Force's evacuation of civilians in Gaza City from their homes.

David Rutley: The UK has a strong track record of supporting International Humanitarian Law and we call on our friends and partners to do the same. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Liechtenstein

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has plans to visit Liechtenstein in the next six months.

Leo Docherty: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

UN Population Fund

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the £785 million pledged by his Department to the United Nations Population Fund Supplies Partnership from 2020-25, what the planned schedule of payments was for that funding; and how much of that funding has been disbursed and on what dates as of 23 October 2023.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: In 2019, the UK pledged £425 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Supplies Partnership (not £785 million)Following the signing of its first agreement, the UK disbursed £65 million in 2020 as planned. The UK signed a second agreement in 2020 to provide the remaining £360 million from 2020-2025 but this was reduced in 2021 following reductions in ODA spending. We are currently providing £60 million a year to UNFPA Supplies Programme.Payments can be found on DevTracker: https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-1-300713/documents.

Sri Lanka: Drinking Water

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help all people in northern Sri Lanka to have access to clean drinking water; and if he will make representations to his Sri Lankan counterpart on an independent investigation of the area around the Chunnakam power plant complex.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK Government is aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and quality, and the unique challenges faced by communities in the Northern Province. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka, including the national water supply and drainage board, have conducted tests into the water quality. The Chunnakam Power plant has offered compensation to those affected by water pollution. The UK Government supports the International Water Management Institute, an international water management research organisation, solutions to increasing water scarcity in Puttalam and Kilinochchi. Officials from the British High Commission Colombo regularly visit the Northern Province, meet with a range of stakeholders, and hear their experiences and concerns.

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Peace Negotiations

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help promote talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Leo Docherty: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Myanmar: Human Rights

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights A/HRC/54/59: Situation of human rights in Myanmar, published on 19 September 2023.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK shares the findings of the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the increasingly dire human rights situation in Myanmar. We remain committed to targeting the regime's access to finance and arms, including through sanctions on the military leadership to inhibit access to revenue and equipment. Accountability is key in stopping the atrocities committed against the Myanmar people. To support the preservation of evidence for future prosecution, we have provided over £600,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and established the Myanmar Witness project. Continued humanitarian access and assistance remains a UK priority in Myanmar.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of 17 October 2023 by the Minister for Immigration on safe asylum routes for Afghan refugees, Official Report, Column 54WH, how many and what proportion of people who submitted an Expression of Interest in resettlement to the UK under Pathway 3 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and have been assessed by his Department as eligible in principle for resettlement under that pathway are located in (a) Afghanistan and (b) a third country.

Leo Docherty: Given the sensitivity of the security checks element of the process, we are unable to give precise numbers of individuals at each stage of the process. This is a dynamic picture, which changes daily. It would not be helpful for those in Afghanistan for us to give a running commentary on numbers, which could draw attention to those preparing to cross the border.As of 19 October, there are circa 910 eligible individuals under ACRS Pathway 3 being supported in third countries.

Africa: Christianity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of the persecution of Christians in Africa.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. We monitor the situation for religious and non-religious communities globally and recognise the persecution of Christians and other groups on account of their faith or beliefs, including in Africa. We work multilaterally and bilaterally to promote FoRB, and it remains an important priority for our work in Africa. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB, the Honourable member for Congleton, plays an active role in supporting this work and spoke at the launch of Aid to the Church in Need's Africa focussed report in Parliament on 24 October.

Gaza: Civilians

Andrew Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that Palestinian civilians can secure safe passage out of Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Andrew Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help facilitate the opening of an international humanitarian corridor in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hamas: Hostage Taking

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas since 7 October 2023.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Myanmar: Military Aid

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage his international counterparts to stop the supply of (a) arms, (b) military equipment, (c) fuel and (d) funds to Myanmar.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Since the coup in February 2021, the UK has announced fifteen rounds of targeted sanctions on the military leadership and those who seek to profit from supplying the regime in Myanmar. The UK continues to work closely with international partners, including the US, EU and Canada, to take robust action to reduce the military's access to arms, military equipment, fuel and funds and to pressure those who sell arms to the military. We have used, and will continue to use, our role at the G7 and the UN to this end.

Hamas: Hostage Taking

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the Red Cross in gaining access to the hostages taken by Hamas since 7 October 2023.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza; and what steps he is taking to support (a) Islamic Relief, (b) the Egyptian Red Crescent and (c) other aid agencies in delivering aid.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Gaza: Bombings

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of the damage to the Islamic Relief offices in Gaza City.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Restraint Equipment: Trade

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, entitled A/78/324: Thematic study on the global trade in weapons, equipment and devices used by law enforcement and other public authorities that are capable of inflicting torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, published by the United Nations Human Rights Office on 24 August 2023; and whether he has had discussions with his international counterparts in the UN on establishing a treaty to regulate the trade in such weapons, equipment and devices.

Leo Docherty: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in Turkey on attacks in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the humanitarian situation in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria following recent attacks.

Leo Docherty: As a close NATO ally, we regularly engage the Turkish Government on regional stability, including in Syria. The Foreign Secretary most recently discussed this issue with the Turkish Foreign Minister in Ankara on 20 October. The UK recognises Turkey's legitimate security interests in the region but encourages restraint from activity that could lead to further destabilisation or civilian loss of life. Security and stability in the region are necessary to prevent worsening of the already serious humanitarian situation in northern Syria and enable the Global Coalition and its partners to continue the fight against Daesh. HMG encourages all international actors to do everything possible to ensure that sufficient aid reaches those in need.

Israel: Embassies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to strengthen HM Embassy in Tel Aviv.

David Rutley: Both our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate-General in Jerusalem remain staffed and continue to provide consular services to British nationals who require assistance. A rapid deployment team has also been sent to Israel to bolster the efforts of British consular officials.

Iran: Gaza

Nicola Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of direct Iranian involvement in the conflict in Gaza; and what steps he is taking to deter suchinvolvement.

David Rutley: The UK is clear that Hamas is fully responsible for these appalling acts of terror in Israel. We are also clear that Iran poses an unacceptable threat to Israel. We have long condemned Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial and military support to several militant and proscribed groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. During his visit to the Middle East, the Prime Minister discussed the risk of regional escalation extensively with partners and we have deployed UK military assets to the region to carry out surveillance and act as a deterrent. Such activity compromises the region's security, its ability to prosper and escalates already high tensions.

Vaccination: International Cooperation

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support global immunisation and vaccination efforts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted global health and immunisation. The UK Government is committed to supporting efforts to get routine immunisation back on track and has invested £1.65 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance from 2021-2025 to support their mission to immunise 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases over this period. The UK has supported Gavi since its inception in 2000, during which time Gavi has vaccinated more than 1 billion children in 78 lower-income countries, saving over 17 million lives. Alongside our Gavi investment, we are working with countries to build stronger primary health care systems as a core part of restoring immunisation services.

Gaza: Housing and Infrastructure

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the level of damage that has been caused to (a) civilian infrastructure and (b) homes in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

David Rutley: The UK Government is clear that civilian infrastructure like schools, hospitals and shelters must be protected in conflict. The UK is calling for unimpeded humanitarian access so that essential aid can reach civilian populations in Gaza including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected. The Prime Minister, along with the Foreign Secretary, continues to engage regularly and closely with their Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the protection of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

Gaza and Israel: International Law

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure that international law is upheld during the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold international humanitarian law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians. The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law. As President Biden has also made clear, Israel will have to act within international law. The Foreign Secretary and his ministerial team continue to receive legal advice on all matters related to foreign policy, including the situation Israel and Gaza.

Egypt: Gaza

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with his Egyptian counterpart on the situation in Gaza.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with his Jordanian counterpart on the situation in Gaza.

David Rutley: Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with their Egyptian counterparts on multiple occasions. The Prime Minister visited Cairo on 20 September where he met President Sisi. The Foreign Secretary visited Cairo on 19 and 21 October where he met his counterpart, the Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasise the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Documents

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many premium same day apostille cases were processed in each of the last five years; and what funds were generated by that service in each of those years.

David Rutley: The number of apostilles issued and revenue generated by the Same Day Legalisation Service for the last five complete financial years is as follows:Financial YearApostillesRevenue2022/23104,146£7,796,4212021/2296,154£7,220,8452020/2138,537£2,894,6002019/20112,145£8,445,4482018/19128,157£9,625,785

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Documents

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) Notaries Public and (b) agents representing Notaries his Department consulted on ending the premium same day service for apostilles.

David Rutley: FCDO Legalisation Office regularly reviews its service offer. Earlier this year, Legalisation Services undertook a customer review of its service offer contacting every registered Same Day Service customer to feed into the latest review. An initial meeting with stakeholders was held on 12 October to discuss the closure of the Same Day service. My officials will shortly be in touch with the affected parties to discuss the issue further.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Documents

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to maintain the same-day premium apostille service after 2023.

David Rutley: Legalisation Services is subject to regular review to ensure the public offers are as efficient, sustainable, and resilient as possible. Following the most recent review it was decided that consolidating the services and withdrawing the Same Day Service was in the best interests of the wider service.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2022 to Question 97500 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Incentives, what the value was of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for his core Department as performance-related bonuses in 2022-23.

David Rutley: Performance related bonuses paid out as non-cash vouchers is a common practice across Government. The total bonus spend for 2022-23 is £11.131 million. We do not capture data for non-cash vouchers only, therefore this figure includes both cash and non-cash awards. This figure includes payments and award to both UK based and Country based staff.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons Chamber: Asbestos

Damien Moore: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what information the Commission holds on how much asbestos is located in pipes leading into the House of Commons Chamber.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

High Speed 2 Line: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Grahame Morris: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the cost of parliamentary scrutiny of sections of HS2 that have since been cancelled.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Commission has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

AI Council and Frontier AI Taskforce

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason the AI Council was disbanded; whether the AI taskforce includes any members of the AI council; and what the terms of reference are for each of those bodies.

Paul Scully: Now the terms of the AI Council members have come to an end, DSIT will be establishing a wider group of expert advisers to input on a range of priority issues across the department, including artificial intelligence, in order to expand the diversity of input on policy issues.The AI Council’s terms of reference established members would sit on the council for a fixed-term period of up to three years, and all current members are invited to join this wider group of expertise.The wider group of expertise will be separate but complementary to the recently established Foundation Model Taskforce which will drive forward critical work on AI safety and research.Since it was established, the Council has advised Government on landmark policies including the National AI Strategy and the recent AI Regulation White Paper, which committed to reviewing its role and how Government structures and experts can support the UK’s evolving AI priorities. AI Council members have been invited to join the wider group of technology advisors as we establish the Foundation Model Taskforce.

Social Media: Mental Health

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the impact of social media usage on the mental health of people under the age of 18.

Paul Scully: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

AI, Data, Robotics Forum

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether representatives from (a) the Government and (b) British industry will attend the European AI, Data and Robotics Forum on 8 and 9 November 2023.

Paul Scully: Given the proximity of the Safety Summit to the European AI, Data and Robotics Forum on 8 and 9 of November, the Government will not be sending any Ministers or officials to the event. However, both UK Government Ministers and officials participate in European technology-focused events, with an SCS-led official delegation attending the IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) Europe Data Protection Conference this November, which will seek to facilitate our EU data objectives.

Artificial Intelligence: Offences against Children

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to include the proliferation of AI-generated child abuse imagery on the agenda for the AI Safety Summit.

Paul Scully: The UK believes that the global risks posed by frontier AI are increasingly urgent, including risks to online safety. That is why the summit programme, published October 16, includes a roundtable discussion on risks from the integration of frontier AI into society. This issue is also being considered through wider government action. Under the Online Safety Bill, AI-generated content shared by users on social media will be regulated to limit the spread of illegal materials including child sexual abuse.

Artificial Intelligence: Civil Society

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to invite representatives from civil society to the AI Safety Summit.

Paul Scully: The summit will focus on risks created or significantly exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems, while considering how safe AI can be used for public good and to improve people’s lives. The UK looks forward to welcoming representatives from civil society as well as leading AI nations, technology companies and researchers to Bletchley Park. Together we will turbocharge global action on the safe and responsible development of frontier AI to ensure nations and citizens globally can realise its benefits.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Women

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of officials in her Department that are (a) graded as senior civil servant 2 and (b) on full-time equivalent contracts are women.

George Freeman: The proportion of officials in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that are graded as senior civil servant 2 is 1.4%.The proportion of officials that are women, on a full-time equivalent basis is 52.5%.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Women

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of officials in her Department on temporary contracts are women.

George Freeman: The proportion of officials in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on temporary contracts that are women is 50%.

Artificial Intelligence: Finance

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether British companies will have access to European Innovation Council funding for solutions to (a) bias and (b) discrimination in AI systems following the UK's re-admission to Horizon.

George Freeman: UK applicants will be able to participate in the full Horizon Europe programme and UK entities are eligible to receive grant funding through all instruments of the European Innovation Council. The UK is not part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund – which provides equity finance support to EIC Accelerator projects.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support rural communities increase levels of broadband connectivity.

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure mobile phone coverage in rural communities.

Sir John Whittingdale: The Government is committed to improve digital connectivity in rural areas. Project Gigabit is the Government’s £5 billion programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to rural and hard-to-reach communities across the UK. Alongside suppliers’ commercial rollout plans, our target is to achieve 85% gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025, and then nationwide coverage by 2030. Over 78% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband, which represents significant progress since January 2019, when coverage was just 6%. Through our 12 Project Gigabit contracts, including one in Cumbria, and 27 current live procurements, we have made over £2 billion of funding available to suppliers to bring gigabit-capable broadband to up to 1.1 million premises in hard to reach parts of the country. Support is also available for homes and businesses in some rural areas through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. Over 100,00 vouchers have been used to connect rural homes and businesses with fast, reliable broadband. In April 2023, the Government announced a capital grants scheme to provide up to 35,000 premises with help to access Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite equipment to improve their connectivity. The scheme will be open to premises that the department has identified as being unlikely to benefit from an improved fixed line, or fixed wireless access connection. More information on eligibility for this scheme will be announced shortly. The department is also consulting on future policy solutions for Very Hard to Reach premises. In October 2023, we launched two consultations, one on the Broadband Universal Service Obligation and one setting out our proposed policy approach to connecting Very Hard to Reach premises across the UK. We welcome contributions to both consultations until they close on Monday 27 November. To improve mobile coverage in rural areas, the Government is working with the UK’s four mobile network operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network. This agreement will see the Government and industry jointly invest over £1 billion to increase outdoor 4G mobile coverage across the UK to 95% by the end of 2025. The programme targets areas of the country with partial or no 4G coverage, in rural and hard-to-reach locations across the UK. 4G coverage across the UK is currently approaching 93%, which is up from 91% when the Shared Rural Network deal was signed in March 2020. Alongside the Shared Rural Network, the Government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023, set out further steps to improve connectivity across the UK, including a new ambition for nationwide coverage of standalone 5G in all populated areas by 2030. Finally, Simon Fell MP has been appointed as the Government’s Rural Connectivity Champion. His role will be to ensure that rural communities and businesses can access and adopt the connectivity that they need.

Genomics: China

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2023 to HL9736 on University of Cambridge: China, what advice the Research Collaboration Advice Team has given to universities on partnering with Chinese genomics companies.

George Freeman: The Government wants to enable collaborative international research, while ensuring universities engage with all companies, including Chinese genomics companies, in a way that takes account of national security concerns and is compliant with the UK’s security policies and regulations. As part of our proactive engagement with academia, the Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) provides tailored advice to universities on national security risks in international collaborations. All advice is provided in confidence and is specific to the context and needs of each university. RCAT advice is informed by the NPSA's Trusted Research campaign and the UK Biological Security Strategy.

Home Office

Short-term Holding Facilities: Children

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the age profile is of .lone child refugees at the (a) Kent Intake Unit and (b) Manston centre overthelastyear.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of painting over murals designed to welcome lone child refugees at immigration centres.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many murals designed to welcome lone child refugees atwhichlocations have been painted over.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the Minister for Immigration defines too welcoming.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Domestic Visits

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister for Immigration last visited a detention centre holding lone child refugees.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether outside contractors were used to paint over murals designed to welcome lone child refugees at immigration centres.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason removing murals designed to welcome lone child refugees at immigration centres was considered a priority.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Manston Asylum Processing Centre: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether new (a) contractors and (b) materials were used to paint over the mural at the Manston Immigration Centre.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer. Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible. It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to replace the murals designed to welcome lone child refugees that were painted over at immigration centres with age-appropriate murals.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from where paint used to cover up murals at immigration centres designed to welcome lone child refugees was procured.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Kent Intake Unit: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2023 to Question 198113 on Kent Intake Unit: Paintings, whether her Department paid for the work hours of contractors used to paint over the mural at the Kent Intake Unit.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer. Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible. It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the paint used to cover up murals designed to welcome lone child refugees was manufactured in the UK.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Short-term Holding Facilities: Paintings

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost was of the paint used to cover murals designed to welcome lone child refugees at detention centres.

Robert Jenrick: Existing contractors based onsite carried out the work. There was no cost to the taxpayer.Whilst the murals have been removed, other features at the facility include larger and softer interview rooms, an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure the safety of those on site. The KIU is a bespoke building that was opened in 2022 designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minors, with increased capacity allowing more children to be seen and their requirements identified as swiftly as possible.It should be noted that very few under-13s pass through the Kent Intake Unit and these children are prioritised to be moved to Kent County Council care at the earliest opportunity. The overwhelming majority of unaccompanied children who passed through the location last year were largely teenagers. The Home Office has worked closely with Local Authorities, including increase funding, to expedite the transfer time so that unaccompanied minors reach local authorities as soon as possible.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a target timeframe for processing Ukraine Humanitarian Sponsorship Scheme applications; and if she will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asylum

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that asylum seekers are able to (a) make initial and (b) maintain contact with her Department.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Immigration: Advisory Services

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the contract notice for the provision of a competence assessment and moderation process for the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, published by her Department on 5 October 2023, when that Office plans to finalise the question papers for candidates to become (a) Level 1, (b) Level 2, and (c) Level 3 Immigration Advisers.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Durham County Council on the proposed changes to Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to convert Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre into a facility for men only.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Asylum: Children

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the (a) safety of asylum seekers aged under 18 and (b) adequacy of detention facilities for asylum seekers aged under 18.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Home Office: Documents

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on whether an email, image of a signed letter written by an applicant or a physical signature are required for a letter of authority.

Robert Jenrick: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Kent Intake Unit: Construction

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the salary paid to contractors constructing the Kent Intake Unit.

Robert Jenrick: The construction of the new Kent Intake Unit at 5 Channel View Road, Dover was completed on 10/10/22. Home Office engaged the main contractor Wates, under a design and build contract, to deliver the construction works. The value of the contract with Wates was £8,036,291 plus vat.Further information is available at: Contracts Finder - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Illegal Migration Bill

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring forward regulations on the commencement of sections of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 that do not come into force on the date on which that Act receives Royal Assent.

Robert Jenrick: The Illegal Migration Act 2023 is a landmark piece of legislation which will deliver some of the biggest changes in decades to our migration system. As is standard practice for any legislation, commencement of the measures in the new legislation will take place over the next coming weeks and months.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service: Finance

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to increase funding for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in costs on fire and rescue services across England.

Chris Philp: Fire and rescue services have the resources they need to do their important work. Overall, fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) will receive around £2.6 billion in 2023/24. All standalone FRAs, which includes West Yorkshire, will see an increase in core spending power of 8.1 per cent in cash terms compared to 2022/23.On 6 February 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the final Local Government Financial Settlement setting out the referendum principles for Local Authorities in 2023/24. All standalone FRAs, including West Yorkshire, will be able to increase their Band D council tax by £5. This will raise c£67 million if all standalone FRAs choose to make full use of the flexibility.The final settlement also confirmed that Revenue Support Grant and Baseline Funding Levels would increase in line with September 2022 CPI (10.1%). This will help FRAs to manage their inflationary pressures.Ahead of the 2024/25 Provisional Local Government Financial Settlement, the Home Office worked closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council to review evidence of inflationary pressures facing fire and rescue services.

Knives: Bournemouth East

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent homicides involving (a) an object with a blade and (b) a sharp instrument in Bournemouth East constituency.

Chris Philp: The Government is determined to tackle the underlying causes of serious violence, and we are redoubling our efforts with a twin-track approach, combining tough enforcement to get dangerous weapons off the streets with programs that steer young people away from crime.We are supporting the police every step of the way in this effort. As of 31 March 2023, over 20,000 additional officers have been recruited in England and Wales and as of 31 March 2023, Dorset Police has recruited 174 additional uplift officers against a total three-year allocation of 166 officers.On 31 January, the Government confirmed a total police funding settlement of up to £17.2 billion in 2023/24, an increase of up to £313.8 million when compared to 2022/23. Dorset Police’s funding will be up to £166 million in 2023/24, an increase of up to £6.9 million when compared to 2022/23.More widely, the Serious Violence Duty, introduced as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, requires a range of specified authorities, such as the police, local government, criminal justice services and health services, to work collaboratively, share data and information, and put in place plans to prevent and reduce serious violence within their local communities. Dorset have been allocated £292,301 in 2023/24 to cover costs incurred by local partners in delivering the Duty.In addition, we keep all legislation under review in the interests of public safety. The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 includes specific measures around knives, in particular making it an offence to possess certain offensive weapons in private, and stopping knives being sent to residential addresses after they are bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company to ensure that the product would not be delivered into the hands of a person under 18.Building on this we recently consulted on new legislative proposals to tackle knife crime and published the government response on 30 August 2023. When Parliamentary time allows, the Government intends to introduce:o A new ban on zombie-style machetes and knives that have no practical use.o More powers for police to seize knives that could be used in crimes.o A new offence and higher sentencing to root out the sale and possession of these dangerous weapons.Finally, we are also providing £200 million over 10 years for the Youth Endowment Fund, to test and evaluate what works to ensure those young people most at risk are given the opportunity to turn away from violence and lead positive lives.

Police Stations: Concrete

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police stations have had safety assessments for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in each of the last five years.

Chris Philp: My officials continue to work closely with policing partners to assess any safety issues resulting from the life expiry of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).All police forces are aware of the potential risks and have been working alongside industry experts since 2021 to ensure site inspections by qualified building surveyors and condition surveys are conducted. Individual police forces have rightly taken a variety of steps to mitigate any potential issues and ensure everyone's safety - including vacating buildings, and demolishing or replacing structures where issues have been identified. Where there is any uncertainty forces are conducting prompt further investigations.

Emergency Services Network

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the original estimated completion date for the Emergency Services Network critical communications system was; what his most recent estimate is for the completion date of that project; and what (a) the original cost estimate was for and (b) his most recent cost estimate is for that project.

Chris Philp: The Emergency Services Network will replace the Airwave communications service currently used by Britain’s emergency services and transform the way they operate.The July 2021 Full Business Case (FBC) estimated the cost of the programme to deliver ESN at £1.6bn, compared with the original estimate of £1.2bn. When combined with the Airwave and Legacy contracts, and the ongoing costs of the replacement ESN service, the total cost of providing critical emergency services communications between 2015/16 and 2036/37 in the July 2021 FBC was estimated at £11.3bn. This assumed Airwave and legacy system costs of approximately £450m annually compared with ESN at around £250m per annum. This estimated a target Airwave Shutdown Date of December 2026. The original estimated completion date was 2019.In April 2021 the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into Motorola’s profits on Airwave and as a result Motorola left the Programme in December 2022.The CMA’s final report recommended Charge Controls on the Airwave service that if confirmed will save the taxpayer in the region of £200m a year for the period 2023 to 2029. This is pending the outcome of Motorola’s appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.The Home Office is in the process of procuring a new supplier for mobile radio and data services and intends to release a revised Business Case in 2024, which will set out a new timetable and costs, taking into account the impact of procurement activity and proposed CMA Charge Control.The Home Office is committed to delivering ESN as swiftly and safely as possible and Airwave will not be switched off until the conditions for full transition have been met.

Nitrous Oxide: Motor Sports

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the consultation outcome entitled Nitrous oxide: legitimate uses and appropriate controls, published on 25 September 2023, whether she plans to exempt motorsports from the proposed ban on nitrous oxide.

Chris Philp: The government is banning nitrous oxide from 8 November. It will be controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, however there will be a wide exemption for legitimate use. The Misuse of Drugs (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, currently before Parliament, prohibit the import, export, possession, production or supply of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation (for example, the recreational inhalation of nitrous oxide). They also permit activities for legitimate uses such as for medical, dental or veterinary use or as part of industrial or manufacturing processes.The legitimate use of nitrous oxide in motorsports will be able to continue. There will be no need for any licence or other permission to possess nitrous oxide for this purpose.

Shoplifting: Prosecutions

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of retail theft reports have resulted in a charge in each of the last 10 years.

Chris Philp: The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates showed that on a like for like basis crime has fallen by 56% since 2010.Retail crime, including shoplifting and violence and abuse, is not acceptable and the Government takes this issue very seriously. I expect police to take a zero-tolerance approach to it.Whilst the downward trend in charge rates is concerning, I welcome the 29% increase in charges for shop lifting offences in the latest statistics.The Home Office routinely publish statistics on crimes recorded and charges and is the latest information can be accessed via the links below:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2022-to-2023/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2022-to-2023#outcomes-assigned-to-offences-recorded-in-the-year-ending-31-march-2023https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables

Khat: Smuggling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the smuggling of khat from the Middle East.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes into the UK.

Chris Philp: Khat is a Class C Drug and therefore Border Force seek to prevent its importation into the UK by interdicting it at the border.As part of our ten years drugs strategy, the Home Office is investing 300 million over three years to mobilise a robust plan that attacks every phrase of the supply chain. Together with NCA partners we will continue to protect our borders and bring justice to those who attempt to smuggle drugs into the UK.

Asylum: Portland Port

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2023 to Question 192849 on Asylum: Portland Port, on what date her Department's (a) contractors, (b) officials and (c) Ministers were made aware that there was legionella on the Bibby Stockholm barge; when the legionella finding was reported to the UK Health Security Agency; what steps she is taking to improve her Department's processes to ensure that accommodation for refugees is (i) adequate and (ii) meets the required regulatory standards; and if she will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: As a precautionary measure, and going above and beyond UK Health Security Agency advice, the Home Office disembarked all asylum seekers on 11 August 2023.We take the welfare of individuals on the vessel seriously. The asylum seekers had health assessments, and nobody has presented with symptoms.We are beginning to move people back on the Bibby Stockholm in Portland. All necessary tests including all health, fire and water checks have been completed, and are all satisfactory.The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals in the coming days and months, as part of a carefully structured phased approach.

Visas: Applications

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for (a) spousal, and (b) skilled worker visas in Wales were unresolved after (i) six and (ii) eight weeks in the most recent period for which data is available.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average (a) cost and (b) time taken was for the conclusion of a (i) spousal and (ii) skilled worker visa application in Wales in the most recent period for which data is available.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many skilled worker visa applications surpassed the service standard for conclusion in Wales in the most recent period for which data is available.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of adherence to service standards in (a) priority service and (b) all skilled worker visa application servicesinWales.

Robert Jenrick: We do not treat applications for those working or residing in Wales any differently to those residing in the UK and we are in service standard for straightforward cases across the named routes.Visa fees transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Home Office: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2022 to Question 105323 on Home Office: Incentives, what the total value was of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for her core Department as performance-related bonuses in 2022-23.

Chris Philp: The value of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for Home Office for excellent performance is as follows:(a) 2022-23: £14,513,080This total is for grades below our SCS population. Our SCS are ineligible for these awards.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme advice provided by his Department to Afghan nationals that they should travel to Pakistan for final checks stating that they can arrange their own accommodation in the UK, if she will issue guidance on the criteria required by the Government for those accommodation arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: We continue to issue new visas to eligible individuals under Pathway 3 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. This means they immediately have the right to live, work and study in the UK.Where individuals seek to arrange their own accommodation, the Home Office works with local authorities to ensure that they are content with the arrangements. Where the local authority indicates that they are willing to receive and support the family, arrangements are made to provide a funding package to local authorities, and to facilitate travel to the UK for the individuals themselves.

Police: Greater Manchester

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will meet with the (a) Greater Manchester Police Federation and (b) Greater Manchester Police to discuss policing in (i) Stockport and (ii) Greater Manchester.

Chris Philp: Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), or Mayors with PCC functions, are responsible for the totality of policing within their force area. This includes delivering an effective and efficient police service to meet the priorities of the local community. As the locally elected representative for policing, it is for the Mayor of Greater Manchester, working with their Chief Constable, to set their priorities for policing in their area and hold their Chief Constable to account for their performance.Home Office Ministers regularly meet with policing stakeholders, including chief constables, PCCs and representatives of the national staff associations such as the Police Federation of England and Wales, to discuss a range of relevant issues.The Policing Minsiter recently met with Steve Hartshorn of the Police Federation on 25th October.

Demonstrations: Greater London

Mr Louie French: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle illegal protests that block streets in London.

Chris Philp: This Government is committed to tackling the guerrilla tactics used by a selfish minority of protesters, which take up precious resource and disrupt the lives of others. That is why we introduced the Public Order Act 2023, which improves the police’s ability to manage highly disruptive protests and take a proactive approach to prevent such disruption happening in the first place. For example, the lock-on offence and the associated stop and search power will allow the police to pro-actively prevent protesters from causing serious disruption on our roads and save the taxpayer time and money.Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, the Government also raised the maximum penalty for wilful obstruction of the highway, ensuring offenders can receive proportionate sentences for the disruption they cause.We have also recently amended the Public Order Act 1986 via statutory instrument to align the definition of “serious disruption” with the Public Order Act 2023. These changes give the police greater flexibility and clarity over when to intervene to stop disruptive tactics such as blocking roads and slow walks.

Monuments: Protection

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has in place to safeguard monuments in Whitehall and Parliament Square from vandalism and damage during protests and demonstrations.

Chris Philp: The police have comprehensive powers to deal with individuals who vandalise or damage our cultural monuments. It is a criminal offence for a person, without lawful excuse, to intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage any property belonging to another. The police have a duty to protect the public by detecting and preventing crime, including offences of this nature.The use of these powers is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Service. They have deployed significant resources to recent protests and we have seen them take action to prevent vandalism as part of their response to protests in this area. Ministers are unable to intervene in operational decisions of this nature, as to do so would undermine their operational independence.

Abortion: Clinics

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Leader of the House on parliamentary time for legislation on the introduction of buffer zones around abortion clinics.

Chris Philp: The timescales for commencing the new Section 9 offence of interference with access to, or provision of, abortion services will be confirmed in due course.

Graffiti: Fines

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were handed on-the-spot fines for graffiti in each year since 2013.

Chris Philp: The Home Office collects and publishes official statistics on the investigative outcomes of crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. This includes offenders issued with Penalty Notices for Disorder. The latest statistics, up to the year ending June 2023, can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesThis information is available on an offence-basis and it is not possible to separately identify graffiti from other types of criminal damage.

Migrant Help

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full-time equivalent Home Office staff have dealt with complaints about matters that have not been resolved through Migrant Help in the last 12 months; and how many complaints have been received as of October 2023.

Robert Jenrick: The data requested cannot be provided as it comes from live operational databases that have not been quality assured.

Abortion: Demonstrations

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with abortion providers on the implementation of safe access zones.

Chris Philp: The timescales for commencing the new Section 9 offence of interference with access to, or provision of, abortion services will be confirmed in due course.

Greater Manchester Police: Employment

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have served in the Greater Manchester Police for every year since 2008.

Chris Philp: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area, on a bi-annual basis in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-walesInformation on the number of police officers in Greater Manchester Police as at 31 March each year, from 2007 to 2023, on a full-time equivalent and headcount basis, can be found in the ‘Workforce Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1172892/open-data-table-police-workforce-260723.ods

Home Office: Teleperformance

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2023 to Question 195882 on Visas: Tourism, how much his Department spent on contracts with Teleperformance Ltd for (a) visa processing and (b) contact centre services in (i) 2021, (ii) 2022 and (iii) 2023.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office does not categorise the information in a way that groups together Visa Processing spend with Teleperformance Ltd from 2021 to 2023, therefore we are unable to answer part of this question.Contractual information in Contracts Finder is available for the second part of the question.

HM Passport Office: Staff

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) EO and (b) PO3 staff are employed by HM Passport Office in (i) Glasgow, (ii) Liverpool and (iii) Belfast; and how many and what proportion of these staff have been asked to assist with (A) booking and (B) conducting interviews with asylum applicants on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration in the latest period for which data is available.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office are unable to provide this information due to security reasons. The way data is captured does not differentiate between bookings and interviews.

Naturalisation: Applications

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2023 to Question 202950 on Naturalisation: Applications, if she will correct the broken link to her Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023 in that Answer; if she will provide a link to the reference to naturalisation in those Report and Accounts; and whether her Department collects information on the length of time taken to process naturalisation applications.

Robert Jenrick: We apologise for error in UIN 202950. The link to the HO Annual report is : Home Office annual report and accounts: 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Visas: Africa

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Visa Application Centres in (a) Kenya, (b) Nigeria, (c) Ghana and (d) South Africa courier passports and other documents of visa applicants to Decision Making Centres in the UK.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Visa Application Centres in (a) Kenya, (b) Nigeria, (c) Ghana and (d) South Africa contain scanners and other equipment required for (i) checking the authenticity of passports and other documents and (ii) making electronic copies of those documents.

Robert Jenrick: Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Africa are operated by the commercial partner, TLS Contact, on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration. TLS Contact do not send physical passports or documents from these locations to the UK. Passports are stored either at the VAC or, for some locations, at a remote print location. A Keep My Passport service is available for purchase at the majority of the VACs in these countries which allows a customer to keep their passport while their application is processed.

Visas: Sudan

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a safe route for visa applications from Sudanese nationals fleeing conflict.

Robert Jenrick: The UK has a proud history of supporting refugees. Since 2015, we have offered a safe and legal route to over half a million people seeking safety in the UK. The UK continues to welcome refugees through our existing resettlement schemes which include the global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. The UK is proud to have welcomed Sudanese nationals through both our UK Resettlement Scheme and Community Sponsorship in 2021 and 2022, and we also welcome eligible Sudanese nationals through our refugee family reunion route. While our safe and legal routes are some of the most generous anywhere, we cannot accommodate everyone who wants to come to the UK, and we are not able to open a bespoke route for every situation. The UK has no plans to introduce a designated resettlement scheme for Sudanese refugees. It is our long-standing principle that those in need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

Asylum: Hotels

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of hotel accommodation provided for asylum seekers.

Robert Jenrick: Where there is substantive and reliable evidence that procurement would not be suitable, then it will not proceed. The Home Office is making every effort to reduce our reliance on hotels through alternative forms of accommodation to limit the burden on the taxpayer.

Asylum: Catterick Garrison

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are housed at Catterick Garrison.

Robert Jenrick: Work is ongoing to bring forward accommodation at Catterick Garrison as part of wider efforts to relieve pressure on the asylum system. The use of hotels is inappropriate for the accommodation of asylum seekers. That’s why the Government is standing up large scale sites to bring alive more suitable forms of accommodation and relieve the cost pressures to the taxpayer of using hotels.

Biometric Residence Permits

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the capacity to produce biometric residence permits to meet the Streamlined Asylum Process.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the monthly production capacity for biometric residence permits.

Robert Jenrick: We have agreed daily capacity limits that are sufficient to meet our demands for BRPs and have allowed for additional capacity to meet any surges in demand. Our service level agreement is to produce 100% of all BRPs within 48 hours of a request being received. Currently 100% of BRPs are produced within 48 hours and 99.7% within 24 hours.

Biometric Residence Permits

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time from a decision being made on a biometric residence permit to that permit being delivered is.

Robert Jenrick: All BRPs are produced within 48 hours and 99.1% of all BRPs are delivered within 48 hours of collection.

Asylum: Hong Kong

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people from Hong Kong with a pending asylum claim are allowed to transfer onto the British National (Overseas) visa scheme if they have become eligible since its expansion on 30 November 2022.

Robert Jenrick: In most cases, a person with a pending asylum claim can make an application to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route. However, all applications need to meet the relevant requirements to be granted, including the suitability requirements.

HM Passport Office: Staff

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much time was allocated to training (a) EO and (b) PO3 staff at HM Passport Office who have assisted UK Visas and Immigration teams with asylum applications; and what level of training was provided.

Robert Jenrick: Home Office staff are given all the necessary training to ensure that they are fully equipped to carry out their role. HM Passport Office staff who have assisted in the processing of asylum applications, were given the standard training time, with further supplementary training provided as necessary.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress his Department has made on implementing recommendations made by (a) the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and (b) the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner in reports on seasonal agricultural worker visas completed since 2019.

Robert Jenrick: All recommendations are complete.Following the Inspection by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders, the Home Office signalled our intention to complete a review of the seasonal worker route. The Government will publish information pertaining to the operation of the Seasonal Worker route in due course.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2023 to Question 200936 on Visas: Skilled Workers, how many allegations of exploitation investigated by the Seasonal Agricultural Compliance team resulted in (a) recovery of funds and (b) other forms of compensation.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office does not publish data that would cover this request.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many allegations raised by seasonal workers during farm inspections conducted by her Department were formally investigated in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Robert Jenrick: We do not publish this data.

Asylum: Temporary Accommodation

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress her Department has made toward meeting the target of securing an average of 350 additional beds for asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation per week; and when her Department expect to meet that target.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes data on asylum seekers in receipt of support in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum seekers in receipt of support by accommodation type including hotels and other accommodation can be found in table Asy_D09 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’. The next data release is due 23 November 2023.

HM Passport Office: Staff

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date her Department's officials started planning to provide HM Passport Office executive and administrative officers to assist UKVI teams; and who proposed the request for assistance.

Robert Jenrick: Staff resources are regularly redeployed across the Home Office to meet business demands and priorities. HM Passport Office take a flexible approach in supporting these priorities and demands when necessary.

HM Passport Office and UK Visas and Immigration: Staff

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average pay is for staff at grades (a) executive officer and (b) PO3 in the Passport Office; and what the average pay levels are for (i) administrative and (ii) executive officer staff in UKVI where Passport Office staff have been tasked to assist.

Robert Jenrick: Below is the average pay across the Home Office, which includes HMPO and UKVI, for AO/PO3 grades:National: £24,800London: £28,800Below is the average pay across the Home Office for Executive Officer grades:UKVI EO London: £32,359UKVI EO National: £28,272HMPO EO London: £32,437HMPO EO National: £28,335* AO/PO3 are paid the above average salary regardless of length of service.

Immigration

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department consulted with university researchers when developing its policy on migration.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office regularly engages with a range of stakeholders when developing policy.We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.

UK Border Force: Airports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the number of border officials at UK airports.

Robert Jenrick: Border Force will continue to adjust their workforce according to demand.Border Force keeps its resourcing and staffing numbers under constant review in light of passenger arrival data provided by carriers and port operators.Resource and staffing requirements at every port are continually reviewed by Border Force and resources are deployed flexibly as and when they are required. The Home Office’s priority is to deliver a safe and secure border and we will never compromise on this.Border Force does not hold the cost of running the UK’s border policy for each of the last 10 years in an easily accessible format.Home Office annual report and accounts: 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) contains information on Border Force staffing.

UK Border Force: Recruitment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK border force officers have been recruited in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: Staffing and financial figures for Border Force from 2018 to 2022 can be found at Home Office annual report and accounts.Home Office annual report and accounts: 2018 to 2019 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Home Office annual report and accounts: 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Home Office annual report and accounts: 2020 to 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Home Office annual report and accounts: 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Home Office annual report and accounts: 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

University of Cambridge: Overseas Students

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure clarity on (a) new student visa rules which will affect international PhD students in Cambridge listed in their first year as Not at first registered and (b) the right of such students to bring their families on a student visa.

Robert Jenrick: For courses starting from 1 January 2024, students will only be able to bring dependants if they are on a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree, or in receipt of a full government scholarship. If a student is unsure of what level their course is, they should check with their sponsor or the course details on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).Our guidance products are regularly updated to reflect changes to the immigration rules and such an update was published following the rules changes of 17 July 2023. The Home Office regularly engages with stakeholders regarding policy changes.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's report into the Seasonal Worker scheme, published on 22 October 2023.

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish updated guidance for Seasonal Worker visa scheme operators where workers are at risk of exploitation.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the Seasonal Worker route under close and ongoing review, including the welfare of participating overseas workers. A key objective of the route is to ensure that migrant workers are protected against modern slavery and other labour abuses and the Home Office takes any allegations of mistreatment or abuse on this route extremely seriously. The operators of the scheme are, and must remain, licensed by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). The Scheme Operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms and ensuring their welfare in the UK. The Home Office and Defra monitor the scheme closely to ensure operators adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers. The Sponsor a Seasonal Worker guidance is kept under regular review and updated and published as required.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the Linda Norgrove Foundation and (c) the Scottish Government on the potential merits of opening the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to nursing students from Afghanistan.

Robert Jenrick: We remain committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan and so far, have brought around 24,600 individuals to the UK.We continue to welcome individuals under all three pathways of the ACRS as set out in the policy statement and work with likeminded partners and countries neighbouring Afghanistan on resettlement issues, and to support safe passage for eligible Afghans. Further information is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version Beyond the first stage of Pathway 3, which is now closed to referrals, we will continue to work with international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans at risk under the next stage. Further detail will be set out in due course.Whilst the government maintains a generous resettlement offer, we must recognise that the capacity of the UK to resettle people is not unlimited and difficult decisions have to be made on who will be prioritised for resettlement.

Asylum: Deportation

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people whose asylum applications were rejected have been deported in the last 12 months.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many convicted foreign-born criminals were deported in the last 12 months.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum-related returns by return type (including enforced returns of which ‘deportations’ are a legally defined subset) are published in table Ret_05 of the ‘Returns summary tables’. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on returns. Data on returns of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) are published in table Ret_D03 of the ‘Returns detailed datasets’ and are broken down by nationality not by country of birth. Data on FNO returns aren’t broken down by return type however the vast majority will be enforced returns, of which ‘deportations’ are a legally defined subset.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data for returns relates to end March 2023.Asylum-related returns relate to cases where there has been an asylum claim at some stage prior to the return. This will include asylum seekers whose asylum claims have been withdrawn, refused, and who have exhausted any rights of appeal, those returned under third country provisions, as well as those granted asylum/protection, but removed for other reasons (such as criminality).Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Naturalisation: Applications

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken to approve naturalisation applications was in each of the last three months.

Robert Jenrick: The Secretary of State’s Home Department publishes data on the processing of applications for British citizenship on the Gov.uk website. We do not publish data on average processing times for naturalisation applications.The link to the latest Migration Transparency Data can be found here:www.gov.uk/government/publications/visas-and-citizenship-data-q2-2023

Naturalisation: Applications

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's target timescales are for the processing of naturalisation applications.

Robert Jenrick: The service standard for applications for naturalisation is six months.Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status': After you’ve applied - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Biometric Residence Permits

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Biometric Residence Permit cards have been wrongly delivered in the last 12 months; and how many people granted asylum have not received such cards in that period.

Robert Jenrick: BRPs are delivered within 48 hours of being produced to the address provided by the applicant on their application form.Information on incorrect deliveries is not publicly available, and so we are unable to answer this question.We are unable to answer the second part of the question, as the information is not available in the format requested and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Applications

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the speed of processing Leave to Remain applications.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes a range of data including some on processing times. Please see link: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).The resources available are deployed to decide applications as quickly as possible.

Driving: Crimes of Violence

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of assaults recorded by motorists against protestors undertaking non-violent direct action involving the obstruction of public highways since February 2022.

Chris Philp: It is regrettable that frustrated members of the public have been seen physically confronting protesters. While the government understands the frustration caused by protesters who use highly disruptive tactics to stop hard-working people going about their lives, there is no justification for acts of violence.The police have comprehensive powers to deal with any individual who exhibits violent or threatening behaviour. The College of Policing is the organisation which sets standards and publishes police guidance and is operationally independent. The College has recently worked with the National Police Chiefs' Council to publish National Protest Operational Advice (Public order public safety | College of Policing), which provides operational guidance on dealing with protests, including ensuring the safety of all those present.In addition, the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice on Public Order Public Safety (Public order public safety | College of Policing) was updated on 8 June 2023 and provides guidance on the policing of major events. The document signposts to the National Protest Operational Advice document.The Government has recently introduced new legislation in the form of the Public Order Act 2023 and amended existing provisions in the Public Order Act 1986 to ensure that the police have the powers they need to deal with highly disruptive protests. By giving the police these new powers, we will reduce the likelihood of frustrated members of the public engaging in violent or threatening behaviour in response to disruptive protests. In some cases, the use of these new powers has enabled police to clear the streets of protesters in as little as three minutes.The Home Office does not hold any data on the number of assaults recorded by motorists against protesters.

Department of Health and Social Care

Family Practitioner Services

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) dentists, (b) GPs and (c) pharmacists per 100,000 people in each ICS area; and if he will publish those estimates by Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Neil O'Brien: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Training

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department spent on the (a) Childcare Allowance (b) Parent Learning Allowance and (c) Dependent's Allowance of the NHS Bursary; and how many people have (i) made a claim and (ii) been eligible for support under that scheme in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: Prior to 2017, the NHS Bursary was available to nursing, midwifery and allied health professions students as well as medical and dental students. Nursing, midwifery and allied health professions students starting courses after 2017 were transitioned on to the Student Finance loans system and the NHS Learning Support Fund.The following table shows for the years 2018/19 to 2022/23 the number of students who received an element of NHS Bursary, together with the number of students who received available childcare components and their corresponding expenditure.Financial Year2018/192019/202020/212021/222022/23*Number of Students who Received an Element of Funding67,74843,47020,14717,28918,076Number of Students in Receipt of Dependants Allowance9,1785,0501,096357247Dependants Allowance Expenditure (£)19,053,8508,344,5261,599,887539,752363,775Number of Students in Receipt of Parent Learning Allowance9,1415,0331,077332179Parent Learning Allowance Expenditure (£)7,846,2873,417,731653,253211,489103,489Number of Students in Receipt of Childcare Allowance5,0312,55757614483Childcare Allowance Expenditure (£)16,659,2227,028,7501,313,955399,834238,972 Source: NHS Business Services AuthorityNote: The NHS Business Services Authority moved to a new system in 2022/23. The student count is from two different IT systems with no unique identifier, with potential for duplication in the count. Financial values are unaffected.

Hospitals: Standards

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many clinical service incidents were caused by estates and infrastructure failure in (a) all hospitals and (b) hospitals containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in each of the last 12 months.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hospitals: Concrete

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many estates and facilities related incidents related to (a) non-critical and (b) critical infrastructure risk occurred in (i) all hospitals and (ii) hospitals containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in each of the last 12 months.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hospitals: Concrete

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the NHS estate on his Department’s New Hospital Programme; and whether he plans to re-prioritise that Programme.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Care Quality Commission: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Care Quality Commission spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

Maria Caulfield: In the 2022/23 financial year the Care Quality Commission spent £61,000 on the Inclusive Leadership Pathway programme, a talent selective development programme for underrepresented groups to support them reaching senior levels. It also spent £11,000 on a British Sign Language course for colleagues across the organisation.

NHS: Expenditure

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2023 to Question 159027 on NHS: Expenditure, how much NHS England, clinical commissioning groups and integrated care boards spent in aggregate on (a) mental health services, (b) acute health services, (c) social care services, (d) primary medical care, (e) other primary care services, (f) continuing healthcare, (g) specialised services and (h) other main categories of spending in each financial year since 2015-16; and how much NHS England and integrated care boards plan to spend in aggregate in each of those areas in 2023-24.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pharmacy: Prescriptions

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of prescriptions were written by pharmacists in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Services: Vacancies

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of vacancies in the social care sector in each of the past 12 months.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full-time equivalent staff are working on (a) developing and (b) maintaining the My Planned Care platform.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many times have unauthorized parties gained access to sensitive data or confidential information on the Federated Data Platform in the last twelve months.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Health Services: Attendance

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS outpatient appointments were missed in each year since 2013.

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what quantitative estimates NHS England has made of the root causes of missed outpatient appointments in the last 12 months.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Federated Data Platform will be able to be accessed for commercial purposes.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Dental Services: Durham

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is the Minister taking to increase access to NHS dental services in County Durham.

Neil O'Brien: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, against what criteria the potential provider of the Federated Data Platform will be assessed to ensure it has the capabilities to deliver the project.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Emergency Calls and NHS 111

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Delivery plan for recovering urgent and emergency care services, published on 30 January 2023, what progress he has made on increasing clinical support for 111 online and urgent call services.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Down Syndrome Act 2022

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish guidance on the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

Maria Caulfield: We are using the data from Down Syndrome Act call for evidence to develop the guidance, required under the Down Syndrome Act 2022, for relevant authorities on how they should meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.We will be publishing a report on the call for evidence findings shortly. This report will include a detailed breakdown of respondents and information about what capacity individuals or organisations were responding in, and the area they work in, such as healthcare, social care, or local government.We expect to issue the draft Down Syndrome Act guidance for consultation as soon as possible in the new year, and the guidance will be published at the earliest opportunity following the public consultation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the federated data platform on (a) healthcare and (b) the ability of health authorities to identify trends to support the provision of healthcare.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hospitals: Construction

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the transparency data entitled Ministry of Justice data: ministers hospitality, gifts, travel and meetings, January 2023 to March 2023, for what reason a meeting on 13 January 2023 with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Lords on the New Hospitals Programme was removed from the release.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Databases

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the procurement process for NHS England’s federated data platform (a) is transparent, (b) ensures equality of treatment for all potential suppliers and (c) does not advantage incumbents.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the value for money of the federated data platform.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Health Services: Buildings

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) hospitals and (b) other healthcare facilities that contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in (i) Lambeth and (ii) Southwark.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor the use of the Federated Data Platform.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that the provider of the Federated Data Platform is prohibited from selling data.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Federated Data Platform protects the confidentiality of patient details outside of (a) clinical and (b) research requirements.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Medical Records: Databases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to communicate to patients about the (a) Federated Data Platform and (b) use of their data.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Dental Services: Pregnancy

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to dentistry for pregnant women by (a) ICB area and (b) sub-location; and if he will publish that assessment.

Neil O'Brien: From 1 April 2023 responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to all integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. ICBs are responsible for undertaking oral health needs assessments to identify areas of need and determine the priorities for investment.

Dental Services: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the provision of dental spaces for NHS patients in the London Borough of Havering.

Neil O'Brien: We are currently working on a Dentistry Recovery Plan, to improve access to dental care across England. It will build upon the first package of reforms agreed in July 2022, which included changes to banding and the introduction of a minimum Units of Dental Activity (UDA) value. Our plan will include addressing how we continue to improve access, particularly for new patients; and how we make National Health Service work more attractive to ensure NHS dentists are incentivised to deliver NHS care.North East London Integrated Care Board authorised the investment of £3.1 million in respect of additional dental access for its population in August 2023. All practices were offered the opportunity to apply, from which eight practices in Havering took up the offer. As a result an additional 11,800 UDAs have been commissioned.

Social Services: Recruitment

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people working in the social care sector.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Pay

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the additional costs of the Agenda for Change pay settlement, announced on 2 May 2023, for (a) staff working in the non-statutory provider sector, (b) NHS staff working on local authority contracts and (c) staff employed through the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Dental Services

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Dental Recovery Plan will be published.

Neil O'Brien: We are working on a Dentistry Recovery Plan, which we expect to announce shortly.

NHS: Pay

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the Government plans to fund the additional costs of the Agenda for Change pay settlement, announced on 2 May 2023, for (a) staff working in the non-statutory provider sector, (b) NHS staff working on local authority contracts and (c) staff employed through the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Ambulance Services

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ambulances were in use in the NHS in September (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number and proportion of patients waiting in emergency departments for 12 hours or more from their time of arrival.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Hospices: Charitable Donations

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help hospices affected by shortfalls in charitable donations.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Palliative Care: Disadvantaged

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle inequalities in access to (a) palliative and (b) end of life care services.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Dementia: Care Workers

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to provide additional funding for training social care staff in supporting people with Parkinson’s-related dementia.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Services: Finance

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to allocate remaining funding from the People at the Heart of Care funding for adult social care reform.

Helen Whately: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Telemedicine: Hospital Beds

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of (a) the total number of beds and (b) the number of occupied beds on virtual wards in England.

Will Quince: Published National Health Service data for September 2023 shows that virtual ward ‘bed’ capacity was 10,421, of which 6,807 were occupied.

Vaccination: Manufacturing Industries

Jack Brereton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of the UK’s vaccine vial production capability, (b) reliance of the UK on the import of medical grade vials and (c) security of UK supply chains in the event of a future pandemic.

Maria Caulfield: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department of Health and Social Care: Buildings

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department made of the potential prevalence of RAAC in buildings (a) owned and (b) occupied by (i) NHS and (ii) other departmental staff.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Genomics: Health Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2023 to Question 198889 on Genomics: Health Services, if he will list the companies (a) involved in delivering and (b) that provided technology and products in support of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to reply to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

Liver Diseases: Screening

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter of 7 March 2023 from the then Minister for Social Care to the Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, whether it remains his policy that fibroscans will be in use at 100 community diagnostic centres by March 2025; how many fibroscans have been delivered to community diagnostic centres since March 2023; and whether he has considered the potential merits of setting a new target.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS: Agency Workers

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) nominal and (b) proportional change planned for 2023-24 is for (i) total, (ii) substantive, (iii) bank and (iv) agency workforce for (A) England and (B) each integrated care system, trust and foundation trust.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Radiology: Technology

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of radiologists using existing NHS radiology technology on the time it takes for them to interpret scans.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to reply to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation

Radiology: Costs

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse was of outsourcing radiology scans to external teleradiology companies in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to reply to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

Community Diagnostic Centres

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many community diagnostic centres have been opened over the course of this Parliament; and how many and what percentage of diagnostic centres have been opened (a) in existing health settings and (b) elsewhere in the community.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

NHS England: Agency Workers

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the expenditure limit for agency staffing spend set by NHS England for 2022-23 was for each integrated care system, trust and foundation trust; what the year-end spending against that limit was for each of those organisations; and what limit has been set for each organisation for 2023-24.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to reply to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

Mental Health Services: Children

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of contracting NHS neurodevelopmental assessments to private providers; and whether he has had discussions with the NHS on the potential merits of conducting such tests via the NHS.

Maria Caulfield: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of carbon monoxide alarms in all health settings.

Maria Caulfield: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make PrEP available (a) online, (b) in pharmacies and (c) in GP surgeries.

Neil O'Brien: The HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group (ISG) is developing a roadmap to help guide our efforts to improve equitable access, uptake and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to meet the needs of key populations at significant risk of HIV. This forms part of the group’s work to monitor and drive forward the implementation of the HIV Action Plan.HIV PrEP is currently only prescribed at specialist sexual health services, but as we work towards our 2030 ambitions we will explore opportunities for making it available in a variety of settings. The PrEP roadmap considers actions needed to improve HIV PrEP access pathways in settings other than specialist sexual health services, including online, general practitioner services and pharmacies, to enable potential future delivery in other settings. The roadmap is expected to be made available by the ISG by the end of the year.

NHS: Social Enterprises

Jo Gideon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding for social enterprises delivering NHS services.

Will Quince: The Government greatly appreciates the role of social enterprises in delivering National Health Service services. Social enterprises will have existing contracts with Integrated Care Boards in their local area or with NHS England. These contracts are based on local contracting arrangements and therefore the Government does not anticipate uplifting contracts in-year beyond the existing guidance that NHS England has produced for the ‘2023/24 pay award: revenue finance and contracting guidance’. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/2023-24-pay-award-revenue-finance-and-contracting-guidance-updated-version/The Department has been considering its position regarding the 2022/23 non-consolidated funding, which has required significant and detailed legal consideration and will reach a conclusion in due course.

Medical Treatments: Innovation

Mark Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 16 October 2023 to Questions 200120, 200121, 200122 and 200123 on Medial Treatments: Innovation, which criteria within the MedTech Strategy Programme governance structures will be used to assess the range of initiatives.

Will Quince: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Drugs

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure an adequate supply of (a) methylphenidate, (b) lisdexamfetamine and (c) guanfacine.

Will Quince: We are aware of disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine. Some issues have now been resolved. However, we know that there are currently disruptions to the supply of some other medicines, primarily driven by issues which have resulted in capacity constraints at key manufacturing sites. These issues are expected to resolve by the end of December 2023.We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine shortages can be and we want to assure patients that we are working intensively with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to ADHD medicines in the United Kingdom, in the short and long term.We have issued communications to the National Health Service to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients whilst there continue to be disruptions to supplies. Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns they have and to discuss the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Mark Jenkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with regard to the variation agreement of 28 September 2023 on the supply of fluoridated water from the Williamsgate works, what estimate he has made of how many households (a) will be supplied when fluoridation is operational and (b) would have been supplied under the 1968 agreement on 30 June 2022.

Neil O'Brien: The number of properties that will be supplied by fluoridated water when Williamsgate is operational, under the varied 1968 agreement, is estimated to be 33,884. The number of properties supplied under the 1968 agreement on 30 June 2022 is estimated to be 33,884.

Vaccination

Matt Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish a vaccine strategy.

Maria Caulfield: I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 May 2023 to Question 186075.

Lung Cancer: Artificial Intelligence

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS trusts in England are using artificial intelligence lung cancer detection platforms as of 23 October 2023.

Will Quince: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Talking Therapies

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department spent on (a) consulting on the new name for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services, b) rebranding these services (i) digitally and (ii) physically on (A) signs and (B) official documents and (c) informing patients of this name change.

Maria Caulfield: The new name of NHS Talking Therapies, for services previously known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, was chosen following an extensive consultation process involving clinical leads, staff members, patients and the public. NHS Talking Therapies was chosen as the most accessible and easy to remember name for the public, which was the main objective of the rebranding exercise.NHS England has advised that it spent £20,000 on the consultation and implementation of the rebrand, which was funded from within existing budgets. NHS England also provided national support to minimise any additional costs at a local level, including a suite of editable branding resources and a 12-month timeframe for implementation.

Malnutrition

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospital admissions there were for (a) scurvy, (b) rickets, (c) vitamin D deficiency and (d) malnutrition in age groups (i) up to four, (ii) five to nine, (iii) 10-16 and (iv) over 17 years in (A) 2020/21 and (B) 2021/22.

Neil O'Brien: The following tables show activity in National Health Service hospitals and NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector in England, with a count of Finished Admission Episodes with a “primary” or “primary or secondary diagnosis” of scurvy, rickets, vitamin D deficiency and malnutrition by age group for 2020/21 and 2021/22: 2020/21Primary DiagnosisPatient Age (years)ScurvyRicketsVitamin D DeficiencyMalnutrition0-414128115-92112710-1628501617 or over20586765 2020/21Primary or Secondary DiagnosisPatient Age (years)ScurvyRicketsVitamin D DeficiencyMalnutrition0-43411,715715-9411,6984310-161084,71316517 or over1510126,7859,681 2021/22Primary DiagnosisPatient Age (years)ScurvyRicketsVitamin D DeficiencyMalnutrition0-424164145-968211110-1643911517 or over31863843 2021/22Primary or Secondary DiagnosisPatient Age (years)ScurvyRicketsVitamin D DeficiencyMalnutrition0-45412,054735-91781,8106710-162936,02214017 or over1441167,16910,242Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS EnglandThe root causes of malnutrition may be clinical, for example disease-related, social and/or economic. These problems often interact in a complex cycle. Some health conditions can lead to malnutrition including eating disorders, although malnutrition itself is not an eating disorder.

Autism and Learning Disability: Mental Health Services

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with (a) autism and (b) a learning disability reside in a mental health inpatient unit that has most recently been rated as inadequate by the CQC; and for how many of those people have additional (i) safeguards and (ii) mitigations been put in place to monitor their (A) safety, (B) wellbeing and (C) treatment.

Maria Caulfield: The latest published Assuring Transformation data shows that there are 80 people with a learning disability and autistic people reported in a mental health inpatient setting which the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates as inadequate. This is based on inpatient data at the end of August 2023, and CQC inspection ratings as of 2 October 2023. Where, by exception, a person with a learning disability or autistic person is admitted into a setting rated as inadequate at the point of admission, additional safeguards and mitigations should be put in place. NHS England has established a process whereby any such admission should be notified to the relevant integrated care bord (ICB) Chief Executive Officer, National Health Service regional team and Host Commissioner and reported as an exception to the ICB Quality Board or equivalent. Information on specific safeguards and mitigations for individuals is not held centrally. Each person with a learning disability and autistic person in a mental health hospital should have regular Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews in line with national policy. Commissioner Oversight Guidance was published in February 2021, which sets out that people with a learning disability and autistic people who are in hospital outside their local area will be visited by the commissioner of their care regularly every six weeks for children and every eight weeks for adults. In June 2023, we updated the Host Commissioner Guidance, this guidance sets out expectations for ICBs to act as a ‘host’ commissioner to provide additional oversight of care in mental health hospitals in their geographical area, where people with a learning disability and autistic people are cared for.

Tobacco: Sales

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government policies on ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009 on the sale of tobacco products in the black market.

Neil O'Brien: No assessment has been made. History shows whenever we introduce new tobacco control legislation and regulations, illicit tobacco has decreased, due to strong enforcement. Consumption of illegal tobacco has gone from 17 billion cigarettes in 2000/1 to three billion cigarettes in 2022/23.As part of the smokefree generation announcement on 4 October 2023, the Government is also providing £30 million additional funding per year to support enforcement agencies such as trading standards, Border Force, and HM Revenue & Customs.

Ovarian Cancer: Health Education

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will launch an awareness campaign on abdominal and urological symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Will Quince: NHS England is currently running a ‘Help us Help you’ campaign highlighting the abdominal and urological symptoms of cancer, including ovarian cancer, and addressing the barriers that stop people from accessing services in the National Health Service.It encourages the public to contact their general practitioner if they're worried about symptoms, such as “tummy discomfort or diarrhoea that lasts for three weeks or more, or if they've seen blood in their pee even once”.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Drugs

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of supplies of ADHD medication.

Will Quince: We are aware of disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some issues have now been resolved. However, we know that there are currently disruptions to the supply of some other medicines, primarily driven by issues which have resulted in capacity constraints at key manufacturing sites. These issues are expected to resolve by the end of December 2023.We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine shortages can be and we want to assure patients that we are working intensively with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to ADHD medicines in the United Kingdom, in the short and long term.We have issued communications to the National Health Service to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients whilst there continue to be disruptions to supplies. Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns they have and to discuss the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines.

Long Covid: Clinics

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2023 to Question 189628 on Long Covid: Clinics, what discussions his Department has had with long covid clinics to help inform funding decisions for those clinics for 2024-25.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on the value of data it collects on long covid clinic (a) waiting lists and (b) patient outcomes.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the services provided by long covid clinics.

Maria Caulfield: No such discussions have taken place. Plans for 2024/2025 will be set out in NHS England’s Operational Planning Guidance by the end of this calendar year.No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the services provided by long COVID clinics.

General Practitioners: County Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GPs worked in (a) County Durham and (b) the City of Durham constituency in each year since 2010.

Neil O'Brien: The following table shows the number of full time equivalent (FTE) doctors in general practice in the City of Durham constituency from June 2017 to June 2023:DateDoctors in general practice, FTEJune 201751.8June 201859.6June 201958.7June 202059.1June 202161.2June 202265.6June 202368.7Notes:Data does not include estimates for practices that did not provide fully valid staff recordsFull time equivalent (FTE) refers to the proportion of full time contracted hours that the post holder is contracted to work. 1 would indicate they work a full set of hours (37.5), 0.5 that they worked half time. In GPs in Training Grade contracts 1 FTE = 40 hours and in this table these FTEs have been converted to the standard wMDS measure of 1 FTE = 37.5 hours for consistency.Figures shown do not include staff working in prisons, army bases, educational establishments, specialist care centres including drug rehabilitation centres, walk-in centres and other alternative settings outside of traditional general practice such as urgent treatment centres and minor injury units.Practices in City of Durham constituency were identified using the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.Practice data was not published before September 2015. The data for County Durham is not available.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Mark Jenkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to para. 2.1(d) of the Williamsgate treatment works fluoridation variation agreement, how many households were supplied with water from (a) Williamsgate and (b) Quarry Hill works on 31 October 2022.

Neil O'Brien: By 31 October 2022, United Utilities had begun to transition the area supplied by Quarry Hill water treatment works onto the new supply from Williamsgate water treatment works.The area served by the outlet main leaving Williamsgate water treatment works is the same as the area that was supplied by Quarry Hill water treatment works. The estimated number of properties covered by this area is 8,354. The number of properties that were supplied by Quarry Hill water treatment works before the transition was an estimated 8,354 properties.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Mark Jenkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the (a) capital and (b) revenue costs to his Department of the Williamsgate fluoridation scheme.

Neil O'Brien: The estimated capital cost of the Williamsgate fluoridation plant is £962,252 and the estimated revenue cost is £171,414, both of which include VAT.

IVF: Finance

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of funding access to IVF treatment for individuals who have (a) Turners Syndrome and (b) other conditions when their partner has a child from a previous relationship.

Maria Caulfield: There are no current plans to designate Turner Syndrome for access to in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The Women’s Health Strategy includes a commitment to end the exclusion of couples from National Health Service-funded IVF where one partner has a child. NHS England is working on guidance to integrated care boards to help implement this.

Diabetes: Drugs

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken mitigate the impact of shortages of (a) Ozempic, (b) Rybelsus, (c) Trulicity, (d) Victoza, (e) Saxenda, (f) Byetta and (g) Bydureon.

Will Quince: We are aware of a supply issue with GLP-1 RA medicines. This includes Ozempic, Rybelsus, Trulicity, Victoza, Saxenda, Byetta and Bydureon. We have issued guidance in the form of Medicine Supply Notifications and, on 18 July 2023, issued a National Patient Safety Alert with advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine.Our guidance is clear that GLP-1 RA medicines that are solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes should only be used for that purpose and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.The General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have also issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards in relation to these medicines. We have also added some of these products to the list of medicines that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the United Kingdom.We are continuing to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of these medicines for UK patients, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries. We have provided advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine while there are shortages and are keeping this under review as the situation evolves.

Cystic Fibrosis: Mental Health Services

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of (a) paediatric and (b) adult cystic fibrosis centres did not provide at least 85 per cent of their patients with psychological support at their annual review in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.

Will Quince: The information is not available in the requested format.However, tables showing that the number of centres where the percentage of adult cystic fibrosis patients and paediatric cystic fibrosis patients seen by a clinical psychologist within 12 months prior to the latest annual review was less than 85% in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 are displayed below.Adult cystic fibrosis patients seen (e.g. annual review screening, in-patient or out-patient consultation) by a clinical psychologist within 12 months prior to latest annual review:  2021/20222022/2023Centres reporting data for this indicator during the reporting period1215Number of centres reporting fewer than 85% of patients had seen a psychologist in the 12 months before their latest annual review710Number of centres reporting that more than 85% of patients had seen a psychologist in the 12 months before their latest annual review55 Paediatric cystic fibrosis patients seen (e.g. annual review screening, in-patient or out-patient consultation) by a clinical psychologist within 12 months prior to latest annual review:  2021/20222022/2023Centres reporting data for this indicator during the reporting period1618Number of centres reporting fewer than 85% of patients had seen a psychologist in the 12 months before their latest annual review1114Number of centres reporting that more than 85% of patients had seen a psychologist in the 12 months before their latest annual review54 Source: NHS England Specialised Services Quality Dashboard (SSQD). SSQD reporting was stood down during the Covid pandemic between April 2020 and March 2022 which may interfere with completeness.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Drugs

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that alternatives to elvanse and guanfacine are available for people with ADHD.

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that there are adequate supplies of (a) elvanse and (b) guanfacine.

Will Quince: We are aware of disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including elvanse and guanfacine. Some issues have now been resolved. However, we know that there are currently disruptions to the supply of some other medicines, primarily driven by issues which have resulted in capacity constraints at key manufacturing sites. These issues are expected to resolve by the end of December 2023.We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine shortages can be and we want to assure patients that we are working intensively with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to ADHD medicines in the United Kingdom, in the short and long term.We have issued communications to the National Health Service to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients whilst there continue to be disruptions to supplies. Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns they have and to discuss the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines.

Department for Education

Advanced British Standard

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to provide additional support to that state schools during the implementation of the Advance British Standard.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Antisemitism

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the (a) continuity of education, (b) welfare and (c) safety of Jewish students during the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) monitor and (b) address safety concerns by (i) Jewish and (ii) Muslim students.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Students: Active Travel

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote active travel by key stage (a) three and (b) four students.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Private Finance Initiative

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to end the use of PFI contracts in schools.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Parents: Education

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure parents have access to the materials used to teach their children in (a) relationships, sex and health education, (b) religious education and (c) other lessons.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

St Leonard's Catholic School

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a timeline of the deployment of demountable classrooms for St Leonard’s Catholic School in the City of Durham.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

St Leonard's Catholic School

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department is taking steps to make a risk assessment of allowing specialist teams to retrieve books, coursework and other items which have been inaccessible at St Leonard’s Catholic School since September 2023.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Antisemitism

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools reported anti-Semitic incidents in each year since 2013.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2023 to Question 200806 on Schools: Buildings, what her Department's unallocated budget is for the 2023-24 financial year; and how much and what proportion of that unallocated budget has been ringfenced to support schools affected by RAAC.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Childcare

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of school buildings for wraparound care pilots on (a) maintenance and (b) other school capital budget requirements for the next 10 years; whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the level of free childcare entitlement announced in the Spring Budget 2023 on (a) maintenance and (b) other school capital budget requirements for the next 10 years; whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

David Johnston: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.​

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether capital costs for the remediation of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in schools will apply to agencies which are not the responsible bodies for schools within their area.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools the Building schools for the Future programme had planned to rebuild or refurbish; how many schools marked for rebuild or refurbishment were completed under the (a) Building Schools for the Future programme and (b) Priority School Building Programme; and how many schools that were not selected for either programme have been identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the risk of a school building collapse resulting from structural safety issues.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Condition Improvement Fund

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to outline the (a) financial management and (b) project oversight arrangements for spending decisions made as awards from the Condition Improvement Fund.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Social Services: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the The National review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, published 26 May 2022 and Independent review of children's social care: final report, published 23 May 2022, what progress her Department has made on implementing the recommendations of those reviews; and what discussions she has had with the devolved administrations on coordinating action in that area.

David Johnston: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Financial Services: Secondary Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to increase teaching on financial literacy in the secondary school curriculum.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Standards

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a comparative assessment of attainment in (a) private and (b) state schools in (i) 2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a list of the (a) number of portacabins currently (i) on-site and (ii) in-use and (b) dates on which each portacabin will be removed for every school affected by RAAC; and if she will make a statement.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the (a) capital support, (b) revenue support and (c) support for (i) portacabins and (ii) other temporary accommodation provided by her Department for each school affected by RAAC .

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of schools that will require temporary classrooms due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC); how many schools that require temporary classrooms due to the presence of RAAC have already received them; and what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of schools that require temporary classrooms due to the presence of RAAC will have received them by 20 November 2023.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of responsible bodies that have completed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) surveys have responded that they do not know whether RAAC is present within school buildings for which they are responsible.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's planned timetable is for completing the necessary rebuilding work for schools that require steel props or timber ceilings as a result of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the highest number of lost learning days was in the schools in which the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete was deemed to be critical.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mathematics: Education

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help to raise maths attainment levels for school children below the age of 16.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Fires

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of fires in schools have (a) caused damage to property and (b) required emergency services intervention in each of the last 20 years; how many people were injured in those fires; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to schools on fire safety; how often this guidance is updated; and what steps her Department is taking to monitor compliance with this guidance.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Educational Institutions: Political Impartiality

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to (a) schools and (b) other educational establishments to help ensure political impartiality in messaging shared with (i) students and (ii) the wider community.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Childcare: Special Educational Needs

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of school aged childcare provision in England for Special Educational Needs children.

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department (a) provides and (b) plans to provide for people who wish to train in childcare for children with special educational needs over the age of 5.

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education,  what estimate her Department has made of the level of demand for staff who are qualified to provide childcare for children over the age of 5 with special educational needs.

David Johnston: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

GCSE: Assessments

Paul Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to ensure that pupils at schools that may have lost teaching time as a result of disruption caused by the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are not at a disadvantage when sitting GCSE exams in summer 2024.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

St Leonard's Catholic School

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete at St Leonard's Catholic School has been raised at Gold Command meetings; and what steps have been taken in relation to the school on that matter.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to schools on the minimum size of indoor spaces that should be provided for (a) sport, (b) music and (c) assemblies in new school buildings; and whether any changes have been made to this guidance since 11 May 2010.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to (a) amend her Department's guidance on and (b) bring forward legislative proposals to amend regulations on the minimum space requirements for the (i) teaching and (ii) performance of (A) music and (B) drama in school buildings.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of regulations on the minimum size of indoor spaces for the (a) teaching and (b) performance of (i) music, (ii) drama and (iii) sport in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many portacabins have been procured by her Department for use as school classrooms in each school term in each of the last five school years.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many portable lavatories have been procured by her Department for use by schools in each school term in each of the last five academic years.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school (a) sports and (b) recreational pitches have been used for temporary classrooms due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in main school buildings.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school children are learning online due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in their schools in each region.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Flood Control

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of long-term trends in the number of schools that are at risk of flooding; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Teachers: Recruitment

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent on advertising for teacher recruitment in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The below table sets out total Departmental spend for teacher recruitment advertising campaigns for the past five financial years.  Get Into Teaching Advertising: Financial Year Spend2022/23£13,157,484.382021/22£12,255,612.852020/21£11,848,725.342019/20£12,776,070.542018/19£12,773,706.55 The objectives of the teaching advertising campaign are to raise the status of teaching and contribute to overall Initial Teacher Training (ITT) numbers. Due to the long candidate journey from initial consideration through to applying for, and starting ITT, several methods are used to assess campaign impact. They include regular brand tracking studies and other market research such as: Econometric modelling to identify and quantify the factors affecting sign ups to the Get Into Teaching service.Analysis of the flow of candidates between Get Into Teaching and the Find and Apply services.Tracking of site traffic to the Get Into Teaching website.The teaching recruitment campaign tracks a number of behavioural and attitudinal metrics to give a rounded picture of campaign impact. Key performance indicators for the teaching recruitment campaign are consideration of teaching as a career amongst the Department’s target audience and the number of new, unique sign-ups to the Get Into Teaching service. The campaign also measures the proportion of sign-ups attributed to the advertising campaign, through econometric modelling and the proportion of ITT applicants who have interacted with the Get Into Teaching service.

Schools: Buildings

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's surveys of school buildings are visual inspections.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Education: Mental Health Services

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of contracting (a) rehabilitation, (b) therapy and (c) other similar services for key workers.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's surveys of the school estate for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete looks for other construction risks.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools have not yet completed the Government survey on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Closures

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2023 to Question 140337 on Schools: Closures, how many additional state-funded schools have (a) temporarily or (b) permanently closed (i) all or (ii) part of their school site since the answer to that question was provided because one or more buildings were deemed unsafe; and if she will publish a list of those schools.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is for having replacement buildings and sports facilities for schools affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete; and what criteria will be used to assess the suitability of replacement buildings.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department of Education: Written Questions

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of (a) Ordinary and (b) Named Day written parliamentary questions her Department has answered on time in 2023 to date.

Nick Gibb: The Department attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of written parliamentary questions from Members of Parliament. The below table provides the proportion of (a) ordinary and (b) named day written parliamentary questions answered by the Department from 1 January 2023 to 23 October 2023, as at 23 October.PQ typeAnsweredAnswered on timePQ-Ordinary2,3792,033 (86%)PQ-Named817587 (72%)Total3,1962,620 (82%)

Schools: Buildings

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to instruct Ofqual to give special consideration for students whose schools have been affected by RAAC.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Ofsted on the potential merits of taking into account disruption to schools affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete when assessing their delivery of the National Curriculum.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Reading: Boys

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to encourage boys to read more books.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mathematics: Teachers

Dean Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to become mathematics teachers.

Nick Gibb: There are now over 468,000 full time equivalent (FTE) teachers in state-funded schools in England, an increase of 27,000 (6%) since 2010. This makes it the highest FTE of teachers since the School Workforce Census began in 2010.The Department knows there is further to go to improve recruitment in some subjects, including mathematics. This is why the Department has put in place a range of measures, including bursaries worth £28,000 tax free and scholarships worth £30,000 tax free, to encourage talented trainees to teach mathematics, as well as physics, chemistry and computing. The initial teacher training financial incentives package for the 2024/25 recruitment cycle is worth up to £196 million, a £15 million increase on the last cycle.

Schools: Energy

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of energy bills for (a) temporary classrooms due to the presence of RAAC and (b) standard classrooms.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of the number of schools currently using acrow vertical propping in education settings to mitigate against unsafe Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete panels.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Advanced British Standard

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff within her Department were working on the development of the Advance British Standard as of October 2023.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, from which teams within her Department staff working on the development of the Advance British Standard have been drawn; and how many staff have been drawn from each team.

Nick Gibb: Officials in the Department support the government to deliver education and children’s social care priorities. The Department’s vision is for a workforce with world class skills which is flexible and can be deployed quickly to priority areas. As the Advanced British Standard is a priority, cross cutting reform, officials from across the Department are engaging in this work.

Schools: Asbestos

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish data on (a) the number of schools that have discovered asbestos on their estate and (b) the number of schools with an asbestos management plan in place; and what funding her Department has provided to the London Borough of Harrow specifically for the (i) removal and (ii) management of asbestos in the last 13 years.

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

STEM Subjects: Ethnic Groups and Girls

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much the Government spent on encouraging (a) girls and (b) people from BAME backgrounds to pursue STEM careers in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23.

Robert Halfon: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Higher Education

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with refence to her Department's press release entitled Crackdown on rip-off university degrees, published on 17 July 2023, on which degree courses she plans to increase controls.

Robert Halfon: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Welfare: Advanced British Standard and Curriculum

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that animal welfare is included in the (a) school curriculum and (b) Advanced British Standard.

Nick Gibb: There are many opportunities for animal health and welfare to be taught in schools. In science the curriculum includes teaching about animals and their environment, including understanding the basic needs of animals. The need to care for and return animals taken from their local environment is also included in the non statutory guidance notes section of the Key Stage 1 programme of study. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study#key-stage-1.Schools also have the freedom to teach animal welfare in subjects such as citizenship and personal, social, health and economic education. Teachers are free to determine what further activities they offer in this subject to meet the needs of their pupils. All schools are required to teach a balanced and broadly based curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.The Department will be consulting extensively over the coming months on the design and content of the Advanced British Standard, accompanied by a programme of stakeholder engagement. This will inform a White Paper to be published next year.

Medicine: Higher Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help encourage students from lower-income families to (a) consider a career in medicine and (b) apply for medical school.

Robert Halfon: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

STEM Subjects

Dean Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage students to take up STEM subjects.

Nick Gibb: The Department is investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels to ensure people have access to high quality teaching and can access career opportunities in STEM related sectors. The Department is working with other Government Departments through the UK Science & Technology Framework to deliver talent and skills for critical technologies.The Department funds several programmes to encourage young people into STEM, including:The Stimulating Physics Network, which provides support to schools to increase rates of progression to physics A level.An inclusion in schools project to increase the uptake of A level physics from students in underrepresented groups.The Isaac Physics programme to increase the numbers of students, particularly from typically underrepresented backgrounds, studying physics in higher education.The Department also supports the STEM ambassadors programme, which inspires young people from underrepresented backgrounds to engage with STEM subjects. Secondary schools are also expected to provide pupils with at least one meaningful interaction with employers per pupil per year, with a focus on STEM employers.The Department is harnessing expertise through the Digital and Computing Skills Education Taskforce to increase the number of people taking digital and computing qualifications and to attract a diverse range of individuals into digital jobs. The Department is also investing over £100 million in the National Centre for Computing Education to improve the teaching of computing and to increase participation in computer science at GCSE and A level.The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Maths works with a network of 40 maths hubs to help local schools improve the quality of their teaching. In April, the Prime Minister announced that every young person will study some form of mathematics up to the age of 18, and that the Department will expand and extend the work of maths hubs.The Prime Minister also recently announced plans to develop a new baccalaureate-style qualification called the Advanced British Standard (ABS) for 16 to 19 year-olds, which will bring together the best of A levels and T Levels into a single qualification, and ensure students continue with some form of mathematics and English study until they are 18.The Department is making a £600 million downpayment for the ABS, focused on recruiting and retaining teachers in key STEM and technical shortage subjects, ensuring better attainment in mathematics and English, and providing better resources for teachers and pupils. As part of this, it is investing around £100 million a year to give early career STEM teachers, working in disadvantaged schools and all further education colleges up to £6,000 tax free annually on top of their pay, and an additional £60 million over two years to improve mathematics education. This will help to ensure our young people receive high quality specialist teaching to equip them with the mathematics and science skills the UK needs.The Department also funds the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme which delivers high quality teacher professional development as well as focused support and enrichment for students and institutions to improve participation and provision in level 3 mathematics.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what days there have been Gold Command meetings on RAAC.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who has (a) attended (i) all, (ii) at least three and (iii) at least one and (b) chaired Gold Command meetings on RAAC .

Nick Gibb: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Schools: Music

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many new musical instruments have been provided to schools under the National Plan for Music Education, published on 25 June 2022.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools offer at least one hour of music lessons each week.

Nick Gibb: In June 2022, the Department for Education and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published the National Plan for Music Education and set out the expectation that from the 2023/24 academic year, state-funded schools should deliver high quality curriculum music for at least one hour a week in Key Stages 1 to 3, supported by co-curricular learning, and musical experiences.The latest data for the 2022/23 academic year shows over 85,500 hours were spent teaching music in secondary schools in England to years 7 to 13 in a typical week, more than at any time since 2014/15. At Key Stage 3, the 2022/23 academic year saw over 59,000 hours of music being taught in a typical week. These are the highest levels since 2011/12.The Department also surveyed head teachers in May 2022. The results showed that among schools providing timetabled music teaching, the average duration received by pupils was 47 minutes in a typical week. It was reported that secondary school pupils received more timetabled music teaching each week on average (58 minutes compared to 45 minutes for primary pupils). The Department plans to continue to monitor teaching time in music over the coming years.As part of the refreshed Plan, the Government will continue to invest £79 million per year in Music Hubs, who have a key role in supporting schools to provide high quality music provision, as well as £25 million for musical instruments. This funding will increase the existing stock available to all pupils. The funding will be given to Music Hub Lead Organisations to distribute as appropriate from Autumn 2024.

Schools: Discipline

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has plans to update guidance to schools on the use of seclusion rooms.

Nick Gibb: The Behaviour in Schools guidance, updated in 2022, provides advice on situations that may warrant the removal of pupils from the classroom due to serious misbehaviour, and to maintain the safety of all pupils. The removed pupil should never be isolated but taken to a supervised space where they can regain calm and continue to engage in their education. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-in-schools--2.

Education: Complaints

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have been the subject of parental complaints about the teaching of religious and sexual education in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not collect data on how many subject related complaints are received across schools. Individual schools and trusts will be able to provide information about complaints they have received.

Schools: Buildings

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of schools closing due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete on children’s mental health.

Nick Gibb: The guidance for education settings with confirmed RAAC in their buildings makes clear that schools should consider educational, safeguarding and wellbeing impacts for pupils and do their best to minimise the amount and length of any disruption to education, with support from their caseworker. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-guidance-for-responsible-bodies-and-education-settings-with-confirmed-raac.The Department’s priority is that pupils remain in face to face education or can return to it as soon as possible. Where schools do need to deliver education remotely, they are likely to already have established plans in place that have worked well for them, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department has produced guidance to support schools to provide high-quality remote education, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-guidance-for-schools.This guidance recommends that schools have systems for checking, daily, whether pupils are safe at home and engaging with their remote education. To help schools in doing that, the Department has brought together various sources of government support at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-in-schools-and-colleges.

Teachers: Languages and Religion

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what percentage of trainee (a) religious education and (b) modern foreign language secondary school teachers were recruited against the cumulative targets between 2017-2018 and 2021-2022, excluding the 2020-21 recruitment year.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has altered its targets for trainee (a) modern foreign language and (b) religious education secondary school teacher recruitment for 2022-23, in the context of levels of recruitment of teachers for those subjects in previous years.

Nick Gibb: The table below shows the percentage of the postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) target achieved in religious education and modern foreign languages for the years shown.Academic Year2017/182018/192019/202021/22Religious Education62%58%94%94%Modern Foreign Languages91%88%62%69%Source: DfE ITT Census statistical publicationsTo note:Refers to the ITT Census yearAll figures given are revised.Cumulative performance has not been presented in the table for the following reasons. Doing this could create a misleading answer, as recruitment could be particularly strong/weak during individual years.T he methodology for calculating targets has also changed during this period as the Department moved from the Teacher Supply Model to the Teacher Workforce Model. The chosen approach gives the most robust answer, controlling for year on year shifts in the data, whilst staying true to the question.The Department estimates the number of postgraduate ITT trainees required to meet teacher demand in England each year using the teacher workforce model. The model includes an adjustment to build in any impacts of recruitment being below target for the two previous ITT recruitment rounds, for both primary, and each secondary subject.The model uses ITT recruitment data, ITT completion and post-ITT employment rates to estimate the number of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) entering the workforce having trained via all forms of ITT in the two most recent ITT cycles.

Employment: Childcare

Siobhan Baillie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of parents who have been unable to return to the workforce due to being unable to access school-aged childcare.

David Johnston: The department understands that parents may struggle to return to work or may work fewer hours when their children are of school age. A key barrier is the availability of school-age wraparound childcare. In 2022, 43% of non-working mothers with children aged 5 to14 said that if they could arrange good quality childcare that was convenient, reliable and affordable, they would prefer to go out to work. The availability of wraparound childcare differs across schools and local authorities. In March 2023, only 60% of primary schools reported to currently offer childcare at both ends of the day. This means that although there is some excellent provision, whether delivered by schools or providers, not all families are receiving the support that they need to enable them to work. For this reason, the government is investing £289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme to support local authorities to work with primary schools and private providers to set up and deliver more wraparound childcare before and after school in the term time. This is the first step in the government’s ambition for all parents of primary school children who need it to access childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Successfully meeting this objective will go some way to ensuring that parents have enough childcare to work full time, more hours and more flexible hours. Eligible working parents can continue to access support with childcare costs when their children are of school age: through Tax Free Childcare, worth up to £2,000 per year for children aged up to 11, or £4,000 per year for children aged up to 17 with disabilities, and the childcare element of Universal Credit for children up to age 16.

Special Educational Needs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) help ensure that children with special educational needs and disabilities can access, (b) ensure adequate funding of and (c) reduce delays in the delivery of specialist services.

David Johnston: This department and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are working together to take a joint approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) workforce planning, in recognition of the demand for specialist services. The department has established a steering group to oversee this work. In order to establish the stronger evidence base needed to inform this work, DHSC published a specification for their research into demand and supply of therapy for children and young people with SEND on 19 September.Alongside this, in partnership with NHS England, the department is funding the Early Language and Support for Every Child pathfinders within our £70 million Change Programme. The alternative provision (AP) specialist taskforces programme is also testing a new model, embedding teams of specialists such as mental health therapists and family workers in 22 AP schools.Education funding for specialist SEND services comes from the department’s high needs budget, which is allocated mainly through the high needs block of the dedicated schools grant to local authorities. High needs funding will increase to over £10.5 billion in 2024/25, an increase of over 60% from the 2019/20 allocations. This funding will help local authorities with the increasing costs of delivering specialist services for children and young people with SEND.The department is also investing £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to fund new special and AP places and improve existing provision, including announcing 41 new special free schools. This transformational investment will support local authorities to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, and will also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.

Childcare: Finance

Siobhan Baillie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 55 of the Spring Budget 2023, what the planned timescales are for spending the £289 million in start-up funding for childcare; and how much and what proportion of that funding will be allocated to childcare school-aged children.

David Johnston: In the Spring Budget 2023, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a transformative set of childcare reforms. This included the largest ever investment in childcare including expansions of early years entitlements and wraparound childcare. The department is investing £289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme to support local authorities to work with primary schools and providers, including childminders, to set up and deliver more wraparound childcare before and after school in the term time. The department’s ambition is for all parents of primary school children who need it to access childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare by September 2026. Programme funding allocations will be announced at the necessary points to support local authorities and schools to meet these timescales.

Pre-school Education: City of Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of staff in early years education settings in City of Durham constituency.

David Johnston: The department collects information on the childcare workforce through the survey of childcare and early years providers. This is a long-standing, nationally representative survey of 10,000 childcare and early years providers. The latest data was published on 15 December 2022, and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2022. The department does not collect data on workforce at constituency level.Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England, including Durham County Council, about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing, such as workforce recruitment and retention.Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discuss what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The early years workforce makes a huge contribution to young children’s lives. Supporting and growing this workforce to deliver the transformative reforms announced by the Chancellor in the Spring 2023 Budget is a priority for the department. The department is developing a range of new workforce initiatives including the launch of a new, national, multi-channel broadcast recruitment campaign, planned for the beginning of 2024, to boost interest in the sector and support the recruitment of talented staff.

Nurseries: Buildings

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of nurseries in each region in England that require building works to remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

David Johnston: An updated list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC was published on 19 October, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information. This contains a summary of the number of settings with confirmed RAAC and the status of education in place at these settings at the specified date. This will be updated on a regular basis as new buildings are identified and surveying and remediation are carried out.Maintained nursery schools, which fall under the Department’s remit, were asked to complete a questionnaire. All settings that inform the Department via their questionnaire response that they have suspected RAAC are being fast tracked for surveying. All education settings that are currently suspected as containing RAAC are surveyed in a matter of weeks. As of 16 October 2023, the Department has not found RAAC in any maintained nursery schools.The departmental guidance covers educations settings including schools, colleges and maintained nursery schools. If RAAC is confirmed or suspected in other settings, leaders and relevant responsible bodies may want to consider the principles and approaches set out in the guidance in relation to managing their buildings and the mitigating actions necessary to ensure continuity of provision.The Government has taken more proactive action to identify and mitigate RAAC in education settings than the devolved administrations in the UK, or indeed, governments overseas.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mitigations for reinforced autoclave aerated concrete her Department has put in place in schools.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have each type of mitigation for reinforced autoclave aerated concrete in place.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of mitigations for reinforced autoclave aerated concrete in schools.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her oral contribution of Monday 4 September 2023 on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in Education Settings, Offical Report, column 52, whether Stepney All Saints School was one of the 52 schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete mitigations in place.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.The Department’s focus is on supporting schools and colleges to put in place suitable mitigations to minimise disruption to learning. Mitigation plans could include carrying out structural work so the space can continue to be used, or taking the space out of use, using other spaces on the school site, or in nearby schools or elsewhere in the local area, until structural supports or temporary buildings are installed. Mitigations depend on a number of factors including type of building, building use and the extent of RAAC in the space.The supply of temporary buildings has been increased and the Department has been working with three contractors, to accelerate the installation of these. The Department also met key water and utility companies between 30 August and 5 September 2023 to ensure the easy connection to temporary services. The Department has secured significant capacity to meet current needs and can increase this if necessary. The Government will fund the emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe, including installing alternative classroom space where necessary.Where schools and colleges need additional help with revenue costs, such as transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall or office, all reasonable requests will be approved.The Department will work with responsible bodies, surveyors and technical advisors to establish a longer-term permanent resolution to the RAAC, and will fund the completion of that work, including rebuilding where necessary.Stepney All Saints School was not one of the 52 schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete mitigations in place referenced in the oral contribution of Monday 4 September 2023. It was included in the list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC as of 14 September, as published on 19 September. An updated list was published on 19 October available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information. This contains a summary of the number of settings with confirmed RAAC and the status of education in place at these settings at the specified date.

Alternative Education: Inspections

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in the last 12 months on the adequacy of inspections of (a) pupil referral units and (b) alternative provision settings.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools since 25 October 2022 on how the use of alternative provision by schools is (a) inspected and (b) reported; and if she will make a statement.

David Johnston: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) and Ofsted staff about a wide range of matters concerning Ofsted’s inspection activity.Ofsted introduced the new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) in September 2019. All parts of the EIF apply to pupil referral units and other alternative provision in free schools and academies, while accepting that the curriculum may be very specialised.The School Inspection Handbook has sections (paragraphs 282-287) that specifically support inspectors to evaluate a school’s use of off-site alternative provision, the quality of education, safeguarding, transitions and destinations in pupil referral units, and academy alternative provision. This is because these types of providers differ from other schools as they are intended to be short-term interventions to secure the successful re-engagement into education. The School Inspection Handbook is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023.Where there are pupils in pupil referral units and other alternative providers, or those attending off-site alternative provision while on-roll at another school, inspectors will evaluate the extent to which these placements are safe and effective in promoting pupils’ progress. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of the alternative providers used and, if required, may speak to local authorities, other agencies, and parents/carers to gather evidence.HMCI will produce her annual report later this year which will include the evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative provision.

Schools: Buildings

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the spreadsheet Education settings with confirmed RAAC and mitigations in place as of 14 September 2023, published by her Department on 19 September 2023, how many state-funded education settings where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is confirmed to be present are providing face-to-face education (a) by sending pupils to other school sites and (b) teaching pupils in (i) church and village halls and (ii) other non-educational premises as of 14 September 2023.

Nick Gibb: An updated list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC was published on 19 October, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information.The Department is providing significant support to schools and colleges to ensure children remain in face to face education or are returned to it as soon as possible. This includes providing all schools and colleges where RAAC is confirmed with a dedicated caseworker to work with them to assess what support is needed and implement mitigations plans that are right for them. Mitigation plans could include other spaces on the school site, or in nearby schools or elsewhere in the local area, until structural works are carried out or temporary buildings are installed. A bespoke plan is put in place to ensure that each school and college receives the support that suits their circumstances with a clear focus on getting children back to full time face to face education as quickly as possible. These arrangements change quite quickly and so any figure about the number of children not in school settings will soon be out of date.Project delivery teams are on site to support schools and colleges to minimise the disruption to children and young people’s education, whether that is finding short term accommodation options or designing and putting in place structural solutions for affected spaces.The Department is also funding emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe, including installing alternative classroom space where necessary. Where schools and colleges need additional help with revenue costs, like transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall, this should be discussed with their caseworker. The Department expects that all reasonable requests will be approved.Where a school or college has insufficient on site accommodation once the areas with RAAC are taken out of use and alternative off site emergency or longer term temporary accommodation is required, the Local Authority and school or college is responsible for making alternative arrangements and should agree this with parents of affected pupils and students. In many cases, pupils and students will be able to remain on the roll of their existing education setting, even if they are in emergency or longer term temporary accommodation on a different school site.

Schools: Mental Health Services

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools offer professional mental health support for pupils.

David Johnston: The mental health of children is a priority for this government and schools play a vital role in this, particularly by providing calm, safe and supportive learning environments that promote good mental wellbeing and help pupils who need it to access early targeted support.Schools are best placed to decide what support to provide to respond to the social, emotional and mental health needs of their pupils. This can include the provision of school-based mental health professionals such as counsellors and working with external providers and, where necessary, NHS specialist services.The requested information on schools offering professional mental health support is not collected centrally. The department collects information on staff working in state funded schools via the annual School Workforce Census, but does not directly identify mental health professionals. The results are published in the annual ‘School Workforce in England’ national statistics release, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england.To expand access to early mental health support in schools and colleges, the department is working with NHS England to increase the number of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) working with schools and colleges. These teams include trained mental health professionals who can offer support to children experiencing common mental health problems and liaise with external specialist services to help pupils get the right support. As of April 2023, MHSTs covered 35% of pupils in schools and students in further education in England. We are expanding coverage to an estimated 44% of pupils/students by the end of this financial year and at least 50% by April 2025.

Childminding: Agency Workers

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of how many registered childminders worked for a childminding agency in each of the last five years.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of the (a) closure of Rutland Early Years Agency and (b) decision by Koru Kids to suspend its childminding support service for her Department’s proposed expansion of free hours.

David Johnston: The request for an estimate of how many registered childminders worked for a childminder agency (CMA) in each of the last five years has been interpreted to refer to an estimate of how many childminders were registered with a CMA in each of the last five years. This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, as Ofsted produce these figures. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Since June 2022, Ofsted have published the number of childminders registered with a CMA in their official statistics, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-statistics.The department understands the uncertain circumstances in which Rutland’s providers find themselves and the anxiety that this must be causing, for them and families who may be experiencing some disruption. The department wants to minimise the disruption caused by Rutland’s decision to resign its resignation, and are exploring a number of ways in which to ensure those providers who want to remain registered are able to do so.The department is ensuring a phased implementation of the expansion to the 30 hours offer to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity. The department will also continue to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

Remote Education: Special Educational Needs

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children with (a) special needs and (b) disabilities who will have to use remote learning due to building works in their schools to address reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in alternative provision educational settings by region.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in special schools by region.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the date when all reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete will have been removed from special schools in England.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support children with special educational needs and disabilities in schools that have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.An updated list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC was published on 19 October, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information. This contains a summary of the number of schools and colleges with confirmed RAAC and the status of education in place at these schools and colleges at the specified date. This will be updated on a regular basis as new buildings are identified and surveying and remediation are carried out. At the time of publication, none of the schools with remote education arrangements in place were special schools.The Department is focused on ensuring schools are supported to put in place immediate measures to enable face to face teaching. The longer-term requirements of each school or college with RAAC will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. The Department will work closely with responsible bodies to understand and assess requirements in detail and offer appropriate support.The varying contexts of specialist provision mean special schools may require different solutions if RAAC is confirmed. A caseworker from the Department will be able to discuss the support they might need and mitigations they are putting in place. The Department recognises that some pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those in alternative provision, may find it more difficult to adapt to change and require additional support to transition to emergency accommodation or longer-term temporary accommodation. If pupils or students in a special school need to be taught in emergency or temporary accommodation, head teachers and staff are best placed to know how their needs can most effectively continue to be met.The Department’s priority is that pupils remain in face to face education or can return to it as soon as possible. The Department will provide funding for all mitigation works that are capital funded. This includes propping and temporary units on the estate. Where schools and colleges need additional help with revenue costs, such as transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall or office, all reasonable requests will be approved.

Students: Housing

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of student accommodation.

Robert Halfon: Student accommodation is a busy part of the housing market. As universities and landlords are private, autonomous bodies, the government has no role in the provision of student accommodation, nor a remit to intervene in how it is allocated.The department expects universities and private landlords to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, clear, and have the interests of students at heart. This includes making accommodation available at a range of affordable price points where possible.The department has also created three landlord Codes of Practice, so that if a student believes their accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can raise a complaint under the accommodation Codes of Practice.

Schools: Buildings

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse has been of school building repairs in each year since 2019.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware of a building that may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.The Department will spend what it takes to keep children safe. This includes paying for the emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe, including alternative classroom space where necessary, and supporting schools with remedial works – this is the Department’s immediate focus. Where schools need additional help with revenue costs like transport to other locations, the Department is actively engaging with every school affected to put appropriate support in place. The Department expects to fund all reasonable revenue costs related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). It will also fund refurbishment projects, or rebuilding projects where needed, to rectify RAAC for the long term.The Department is providing funding to improve the condition of the school estate, with over £15 billion allocated since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed for 2023/24. This funding is informed by consistent data on the condition of the estate. On top of this, the Department will transform 500 schools through its School Rebuilding Programme, prioritising buildings in the poorest condition and those with evidence of potential safety issues.Local authorities, larger multi academy trusts and larger voluntary aided school bodies are eligible to receive an annual School Condition Allocation (SCA) for maintaining and improving the condition of the schools for which they are responsible. Small and standalone academy trusts, small voluntary aided school bodies and sixth-form colleges are instead able to bid into the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) each year for specific capital projects to improve the condition of their buildings. Further details are available at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund. Schools also receive Devolved Formula Capital (DFC) each year to spend on small capital projects or contribute to larger projects. As part of the overall condition funding allocated, the Department has provided one off allocations in some years. This includes £560 million in 2020/21 allocated through SCA and CIF, as well as £447 million allocated in 2022/23 to improve buildings prioritising energy efficiency.Details of SCA and DFC, as well as overall funding for the Condition Improvement Fund, for the current financial year are available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2022-to-2023-financial-year; and for previous years, including one off allocations, at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/*/https:/www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations.The figures do not include capital funding for the Department’s rebuilding programmes, which are delivering rebuilt and refurbished school buildings across the country.

Universities: Antisemitism

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to protect Jewish university students from antisemitism at university campuses.

Robert Halfon: It has been deeply concerning to see a rise in hate towards Jewish people following Hamas's heinous terrorist attacks in Israel. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I wrote to Vice Chancellors on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents and actively reassure Jewish students, so they can study without harassment or intimidation. We have also written to school and college leaders in similar terms. On 23 October, I attended a meeting of the Jewish Community, Crime, Policing and Security Taskforce chaired by the Home Secretary, to discuss how we can crack down on any antisemitism or glorification of terrorism in schools, colleges, and universities. We are very clear; all education settings must take swift and robust action against this unacceptable behaviour. The department is liaising closely with Community Security Trust, the University Jewish Chaplaincy, the Union of Jewish Students, and higher and further education mission groups. We are very aware of the impact of the evolving conflict on Jewish students and the steps being taken by education providers to support them.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there will be Barnett consequentials associated with the additional expenditure associated with remedying Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.The Department will spend what it takes to keep children safe. The Department will fund emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe, including installing alternative classroom space where necessary. Where schools and colleges need additional help with revenue costs, like transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall or office, all reasonable requests will be approved. The Department will also fund longer term refurbishment projects, or rebuilding projects where these are needed, to rectify the RAAC issue in the long term.The Department has committed £1.8 billion of capital funding for the 2023/4 financial year to improve the condition of school buildings, as part of over £15 billion allocated since 2015. On top of this, the Department will transform 500 schools through our School Rebuilding Programme, prioritising buildings in the poorest condition. Currently, 400 schools have been announced to date.The Department is committed to working collaboratively with our devolved administration counterparts on this issue, and the Barnett formula will continue to apply in the usual way to any change in the Government Departmental budget.

Students: Energy

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to support students with heating bills.

Robert Halfon: The government has provided considerable sums in energy bill support for the majority of households over the past year or so; this would have included eligible students.Substantial falls in energy prices earlier this year meant that the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets energy price cap is now lower than the Energy Price Guarantee level, meaning non pre-payment meter customers pay the rates set by the price cap.   The department continues to monitor the impact of energy prices on students and the Energy Price Guarantee will remain in place as a safety net until the end of March 2024 to enable a quick response should energy prices increase significantly before then.

Schools: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which of her Department's (a) capital and (b) revenue budgets is being used to defray (i) capital and (ii) revenue costs associated with the need for mitigating reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) risks in schools.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.The Department has committed £1.8 billion of capital funding for the 2023/24 financial year to improve the condition of school buildings, as part of over £15 billion allocated since 2015. On top of this, the Department will transform 500 schools through the School Rebuilding Programme, prioritising buildings in the poorest condition. Currently, 400 schools have been announced to date.The Government will spend what it takes to keep children safe. The Department will fund emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe, including installing alternative classroom space where necessary. Where schools and colleges need additional help with revenue costs, like transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall or office, all reasonable requests will be approved. The Department will also fund longer term refurbishment projects, or rebuilding projects where these are needed, to rectify the RAAC issue in the long term. This will not affect existing programmes. Further details will be set out in due course.

Students: Greater London

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the cost of transport for students in London.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to reduce the cost of transport for students commuting to and from university.

Robert Halfon: Students will benefit from nearly £600 million invested into the £2 Bus Fare Cap scheme, which was introduced by the Department for Transport and has now been extended until 31 December 2024. This scheme provides affordable transport links across England, outside of London. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London and it is for them to make decisions on fares. The government recognises the wider cost of living pressures that have impacted students. The department has made £276 million of Student Premium and Mental Health funding available in the 2023/24 academic year to support students who need additional help, including disadvantaged students. This funding will complement the help universities are providing through their own bursary, scholarship and hardship support schemes. The government has continued to increase living costs support each year with a 2.8% increase for the 2023/24 academic year. The department is considering options for loans and grants for living and other costs for the 2024/25 academic year and will be making an announcement in due course.

Higher Education: Overseas Students and Teachers

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the number of international academics and students coming to the UK; and what assessment she has made of the impact of those trends on university funding in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 academic year.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she made of the impact of changes to student visas on international students coming to the UK.

Robert Halfon: The UK is home to some of the world’s top universities, who benefit from strong international ties, so much so that 55 current and recent world leaders have received their education from the UK and four out of the top 10 universities globally are in the UK.The government recognises the significant economic and cultural contribution that international students make to the UK’s higher education (HE) sector and their positive impact on our society as a whole.The government has been successful in delivering the International Education Strategy ambition of hosting at least 600,000 students per year by 2030 for the last two years. The department aims to continue to attract students from around the world to benefit from British HE.The changes to student visas announced on 23 May 2023 strike the right balance between acting decisively on migration while protecting the UK’s position as a world-leader in higher education. The changes are available at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-23/HCWS800. The offer to international students remains very competitive and the department is committed to ensuring the UK remains a destination of choice for international students from across the globe. That is why, on 23 May 2023, the department reaffirmed its commitment to the International Education Strategy, which is vital for ensuring that the UK remains competitive in the global HE market.The UK is expected to remain an attractive destination for students and academics from overseas in the future.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Sanitation

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which prisons have one or more prison cells that do not contain a toilet within the cell.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisons: Sanitation

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison cells do not contain a toilet within the cell.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Open Prisons: Prisoners' Transfers

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what risk assessments were carried out on prisoners who were transferred to Category D prisons as part of the Restricted Open Estate Transfer Scheme launched in September 2023.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Probation Service: Stress

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many work days were taken off by staff in the probation service due to (a) stress and (b) work-induced stress in 2022.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Open Prisons: Prisoners' Transfers

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reason a pre transfer assessment was not carried out on each prisoner moved as part of the Restricted Open Estate Transfer Scheme launched in September 2023.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners' Release

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) early release and (b) a presumption against short sentences on victims.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Probation Service: Sick Leave

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department collects on the specific reasons for sickness absences in the probation service.

Damian Hinds: Staff absence is managed through established HMPPS and MOJ policies and procedures. We collect data on specific reasons for sickness absence, all of which are recorded on a Standard Operating Platform. The system categorises absence and the table below provides a list of the specific reasons and categories for absence which fall under the broader category of ‘Sickness’.ABSENCE CATEGORY SCREENABSENCE CATEGORY REASONSSicknessRespiratory System - cough/coldSicknessRespiratory System - influenzaSicknessRespiratory System - OtherSicknessDigestive System - diarrhoeaSicknessDigestive System - vomiting/sicknessSicknessDigestive System - dental relatedSicknessDigestive System - OtherSicknessEye RelatedSicknessNervous System - migraine/headachesSicknessNervous System - OtherSicknessInfectious and ParasiticSicknessAnxiety and DepressionSicknessMental Health - Anxiety and DepressionSicknessStressSicknessMental Health - StressSicknessMental Health IssuesSicknessMental Health - OtherSicknessMusculoskeletal - Back RelatedSicknessMusculoskeletal - OtherSicknessGenitourinary SystemSicknessInjury/Poisoning RelatedSicknessPregnancy Related/Child Birth ComplicationsSicknessPregnancy Related Pre BirthSicknessPTMGSicknessSkin RelatedSicknessCirculatory SystemSicknessBlood Related/Blood Forming OrgansSicknessEndocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic diseasesSicknessCancersSicknessCongenital AbnormalitiesSicknessSense Organs - Ear RelatedSicknessRespiratory System -Epidemic/PandemicSicknessEpidemic/Pandemic

Prisoners' Release

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his oral statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report column 61, when he plans to report to the House on the curtailing of the licence period for offenders held on Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences.

Damian Hinds: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice, advised in his statement to this House on 16 October that he would be looking at options to curtail the licence period to restore greater proportionality to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in line with recommendation 8 of the report by the Justice Select Committee report. He will revert to Parliament on this as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Prisoners' Release

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the impact of the early release scheme on the probation service.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners' Release

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prison places that will be made available as a result of the planned early release on licence scheme.

Damian Hinds: The End of Custody Supervised Licence scheme will operate in targeted areas facing particular pressure and for a limited period. Fluctuating demand pressures will affect how the scheme is deployed.

Prisons: Drugs

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many illegal drugs have been seized (a) since the £100 million funding for prison x ray scanners was completed in 2020 and (b) in the comparable time period before that funding was allocated.

Damian Hinds: Delivery of the £100m Security Investment Programme was completed in March 2022 and included measures to prevent the smuggling of illicit items, such as drugs, into prisons. Under this investment, 75 additional X-ray body scanners were deployed, resulting in full coverage of the entire closed adult male prison estate. Between July 2020 and October 2022 there were approximately 28,000 positive indications on these X-ray body scanners. The number of incidents where drugs are found in prisons in England and Wales is published in the HMPPS Annual Digest through the incidents data tool. Between April 2020 and March 2022, there were 37,995 drug find incidents in prisons in England and Wales. In comparison, between April 2018 and March 2020, there were 39,900 drug find incidents in prisons in England and Wales. This reports the number of drug find incidents rather than the amount of drugs found, and incidents can include different quantities of drugs. It is important to consider with incidents of drug finds in prisons, that an increase in numbers may be as a result of more items being found, rather than more items being present in prisons.

Prisoners' Release

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his oral statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report column 59, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on victims of less serious offenders being moved out of prison onto licence earlier than their automatic release date.

Damian Hinds: Protecting the public is our number one priority – and so it is right that we take the tough and decisive action so we can keep putting the most serious offenders behind bars and for longer, as the public would rightly expect. We understand that information is deeply important for victims which is why those who have been victims of crime can get information and updates about developments relating to their case where they are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS). There is a duty to inform victims signed up to the VCS before an offender is moved out of prison onto licence and to seek their views on whether they would like to see particular licence conditions included, such as an exclusion zone or non-contact conditions. That duty will apply equally under this scheme and offenders will not be moved onto licence on ECSL unless and until that victim contact has been completed. Offenders will also have a supervision plan put together by probation, including strict licence conditions, to ensure that they can be safely managed in the community. As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice, set out in his speech to parliament, this scheme will simply bring forward that removal onto licence by no more than 18 days. And if they fail to comply or behave in a way that puts the public at risk, they can be immediately brought back to prison for the remainder of their sentence.

Prisoners' Release

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his oral statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report column 59, what criteria his Department will use to decide which less serious offenders will be moved out of prison on licence up to 18 days before their automatic release date.

Damian Hinds: Only lower-level offenders serving a Standard Determinate Sentence and due for automatic release on licence at the half-way point will be considered for removal onto licence under these arrangements. More serious and higher risk offenders whose release is a matter for the Parole Board to assess will not be in scope. Those serving a sentence for any kind of sexual offence, terror offence or any violent offence with a sentence of more than four years will also automatically be ruled out. Offenders eligible for End of Custody Supervised Licence will be subject to strict licence conditions, as identified by probation in their release management plan.

Cremation

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if the Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to allow living individuals to keep the ashes of cremated limbs that have been amputated.

Mike Freer: I have asked my officials to look into this issue. I will write to the Right Honourable member for Bournemouth East in due course with an update.

Prison Accommodation: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the operational capacity was of prisons in Wales (a) in each of the last three years and (b) for the most recent period in which data was available, by prison.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) operational and (b) actual accommodation capacity was for prisons in Wales (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) for the most recent period in which data was available, by prison.

Damian Hinds: The operational capacity is the actual capacity of a prison. It is the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime. It is determined by Prison Group Directors as set out in the Certified Prisoner Accommodation Policy Framework.The operational capacity of all prisons in England and Wales is published monthly here: Prison population statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).The data for prisons in Wales for the last Friday in September between 2020 and 2023, has been replicated below.Prison NameOperational Capacity September 25th 2020Operational Capacity September 24th 2021Operational Capacity September 30th 2022Operational Capacity September 29th 2023Berwyn1801181018202000Cardiff749779768779Parc1693168916851815Swansea396468458452Usk / Prescoed484514520536

Open Prisons: Prisoners' Transfers

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will list how many prisoners who had committed what offences were transferred to Category D prisons as part of the Restricted Open Estate Transfer Scheme launched in September 2023.

Damian Hinds: The Restricted Open Estate Transfer (ROET) scheme was active from 25 September to 9 October to manage prison population pressures in the Adult Male Estate. In this period, fewer than 50 people were transferred. Due to the low numbers involved we cannot provide information on specific offences as it could risk releasing personally identifiable information. Prisoners transferred on ROET had to meet strict criteria before being deemed eligible.

Prisoners: Drugs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve substance misuse services for people in prison; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking a public health approach to such misuse.

Damian Hinds: We work closely with NHS England to ensure that all prisoners who need it have access to high-quality substance misuse treatment, so they can turn their back on addiction. As part of the ambitious cross-Government Drug Strategy, we are rolling out a range of interventions to support prisoners off drugs and into recovery. This includes increasing the number of Incentivised Substance-Free Living units, where prisoners commit to remaining free of illicit drugs with regular drug testing and incentives. We now have over 60 of these wings across the estate and are aiming to reach up to 100 by March 2025. This will dramatically expand the number of prisoners who have access to these wings. We also know that keeping prison leavers in treatment is crucial to reducing reoffending and we are working closely with health partners to strengthen continuity of care. The Department for Health and Social Care have invested £532m to increase drug treatment in the community. We are also recruiting over 50 Health and Justice Coordinators nationwide to improve links between prison and community treatment services. This recruitment will strengthen join-up between probation and health partners to improve access to treatment.

Prisoners: Neurodiversity

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support available in prisons for prisoners with neurodiversity.

Damian Hinds: The Ministry of Justice is committed to improving support for neurodivergent people encountering the criminal justice system. Through the Cross-Government Neurodiversity Action Plan, significant progress has been made to increase support for neurodivergent prisoners. In partnership with policing, justice and health agencies, a wide range of work is under way to boost capability among staff, improve information-sharing between agencies and enhance support available to individuals.For example, we are actively championing Autism Accreditation across the prison estate to make the prison environment more inclusive. As of June 2023, three prisons and one probation delivery unit have received autism accreditation, and 15 prisons and one probation delivery unit are working towards accreditation. In addition to this, as part of the Prisons Strategy White Paper, HMPPS committed to introducing Neurodiversity Support Managers in all prisons across England and Wales. Neurodiversity Support Managers are responsible for implementing a whole-prisons approach to neurodivergence. This includes improving processes for identifying neurodivergence, training and upskilling staff to support those with neurodivergent needs, and making reasonable adjustments so that those with neurodivergence can access a prison’s regime and offer of support. We have recruited to nearly all the 123 Neurodiversity Support Managers. HMPPS are monitoring the implementation of these roles, sharing good practice across prisons, and will be using quantitative and qualitative measures to assess effectiveness.

Prisoners' Release

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the numbers of electronic GPS tags available for prisoners on early release.

Damian Hinds: The government has invested £156 million to expand the use of electronic monitoring (EM) and build the evidence base for the effective use of the technologies. The majority of our expansion projects are on post-custody licence. The Department works with EM equipment providers to ensure sufficient equipment is available across the justice system to support forecast caseload projections. This includes the use of GPS tags to monitor those released under the ECSL scheme where necessary and proportionate to help support their reintegration into the community. The Lord Chancellor announced on Monday 16th October that the number of GPS tags available to the sentencers will be doubled to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to monitor offenders’ compliance with sentences served in the community where ordered by the court.

Reoffenders

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce reoffending among people (a) released early on licence, (b) convicted and awaiting sentencing and (c) receiving community sentences.

Damian Hinds: This Government is driving down reoffending by investing in a wide range of rehabilitative interventions to help prison leavers, including those released early on licence, to secure accommodation, employment, and substance misuse treatment on release. The overall proven reoffending rate for England and Wales was 24.4% in 2020/21, down from 31.6% in 2010/11. We are also focused on expanding resettlement support for those on remand, including through the provision of embedded pre-release teams in prisons and through the extension of Commissioned Rehabilitative Service contracts to include those on remand. We have increased funding for the Probation Service by an additional £155m a year to recruit staff, bring down caseloads and deliver better supervision of offenders in the community. We continue to recruit at pace and have exceeded our recruitment targets for the last three years. This investment enables us to strengthen probation supervision which is shown to be an effective rehabilitation tool.

Reoffenders: Monitoring

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference his oral statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report, columns 59-60, what steps his Department plans to take monitor the reoffending rates of offenders who (a) are released early from custodial sentences and (b) receive non-custodial sentences.

Damian Hinds: This Government is driving down reoffending by investing in a wide range of rehabilitative interventions to help prison leavers secure accommodation, employment, and substance misuse treatment on release. The overall proven reoffending rate for England and Wales was 24.4% in 2020/21, down from 31.6% in 2010/11. The Ministry of Justice will continue to publish quarterly proven reoffending rates, including breakdowns by non-custodial sentences. For those moved onto licence conditions before their automatic release point, robust licence conditions will apply in every case, with offenders supervised by probation officers. Breach of these licence conditions can result in recall.

Probation Service: Staff

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contracts agreed by his Department on 5 May 2022, procurement references 270751/1269797 and 270751/1269783, how many temporary (a) probation and (b) probation service officers have been assigned to roles within the Probation Service under the terms of those contracts as of 18 October 2023 in (i) the North East, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber, (iii) Greater Manchester, (iv) the North West, (v) the East Midlands, (vi) the West Midlands, (vii) the South West, (viii) the South Central region, (ix) Wales, (x) the East of England, (xi) Kent, Surrey and Sussex and (xii) London.

Damian Hinds: Regions270751/1269797 Service Care Solutions Ltd270751/1269783 Red Snapper LtdProbationProbation Service OfficersProbationProbation Service OfficersThe North East0108Yorkshire and the Humber05047Greater Manchester04322The North West322336The East Midlands02118The West Midlands211160The South West07012The South Central Region317029Wales0014The East of England214188Kent Surrey and Sussex140356London25716131Other*014014*There have been 14 Probation Service Officers assigned during the period under each contract who cover more than one region.

Probation Service: Service Care Solutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contract agreed on 5 May 2022 between his Department and Service Care Solutions Ltd, procurement reference 270751/1269797, how many (a) temporary (i) probation and (ii) probation service officers have been assigned to roles within the Probation Service under the terms of that contract as of 18 October 2023 and (b) total days of work those staff have provided to the Probation Service during that period; and how much has been paid to Service Care Solutions Ltd for the provision of those staff.

Damian Hinds: The total number of (a) temporary (i) probation and (ii) probation service officers have been assigned to roles within the Probation Service under the terms of that contract as of 18 October 2023 working through Service Care Solutions Ltd procurement reference 270751/1269797 were as follows:(a)(i) Probation – 13(ii) Probation Service Officers – 194 (b)The amount of time worked is recorded in hours rather than days. The average number of hours worked per week is 6,996 hours in total, hours worked per day vary per assignment. The total paid to Service Care Solutions Ltd during the requested period is £785,263.

Young Offender Institutions: Buildings

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2023 to Question 200374 on Young Offender Institutions: Buildings, what Department's timetable is for completing the survey of confirmed or suspected reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete in the youth secure estate.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Young Offenders: Education

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2023 to Question 200365 on Young Offenders: Education, what key performance indicators are in place for senior management teams on the levels of provision of education in Secure Children’s Homes.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prison Accommodation

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to help ensure there is suitable prison capacity for offenders in England and Wales.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to establish cooperation agreements with other countries to help manage fluctuations in prisoner numbers.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners' Release

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, from which prisons prisoners will be released 18 days before their automatic release date; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be released from each prison in this way.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Probate

Chris Loder: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce delays relating to probate claims.

Mike Freer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Court of Protection: Credit

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to increase sanctions on companies that approve credit applications for people subject to Court of Protection Orders.

Mike Freer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of of renting prison places overseas to help manage fluctuations in prisoner numbers.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sexual Offences: Sentencing

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is taking steps to increase the length of prison sentences for convicted (a) rapists and (b) other violent sex offenders.

Edward Argar: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is taking steps to learn from the experience of other countries in managing fluctuations in prisoner numbers.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Miscarriages of Justice: Compensation

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take legislative steps to issue automatic compensation payments to individuals wrongly convicted of serious crimes.

Edward Argar: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Probation Service

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the time taken by the probate service to process applications; and what the average time is to process an application for the latest period in which data is available.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints he has received about the performance of the probate service in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times errors by the probate service caused delays to the processing of applications in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many FTEs worked in the probate service in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what service standards the probate service has for answering telephone enquiries; and whether he is taking steps to improve the information provided to applicants who contact the probate service by telephone.

Mike Freer: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prison Accommodation

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to increase prison capacity.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference his Oral Statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report, columns 58-69, what steps his Department is taking to support the rehabilitation of offenders.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Twitter: Prosecutions

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted in the UK for offences relating to posts made on X, formerly known as Twitter, in each year for which records exist.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted in the UK for offences relating to posts made on TikTok for in each year for which records exist.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted in the UK for offences relating to posts made on Facebook in each year for which records exist.

Edward Argar: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prison Officers: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the ratio of staff to prisoners in prisons in Wales was (a) in each of the last three years and (b) for the most recent period in which data is available by prison.

Damian Hinds: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Prison Sentences

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the 10 most common Criminal Justice System offence codes were for which custodial sentences of between (a) 14 days and six months and (b) six months and 12 months were handed down by courts in England and Wales in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23; and how many sentences of those lengths were handed down in relation to each offence code.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of custodial sentences issued for criminal offences, broken down by sentence length, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool. However, sentence length is not specifically broken down in the tool to identify those between 14 days and 6 months, and therefore this information is provided in Table 1 for calendar years 2021 and 2022, the most recently published periods. The requested information for custodial sentences of more than 6 months and up to 12 months is available in the tool linked above. Data for calendar year 2023 will be published in May 2024. Our long-term plan to use prisons better will keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars for longer while reforming short term prison sentences. As part of the measures recently announced by the Lord Chancellor, we will legislate for a presumption that custodial sentences of less than twelve months in prison will be suspended, and offenders will serve their sentences in the community instead. This will cut crime and lead to fewer victims. Sentencing remains a matter for the independent judiciary and sometimes a short custodial sentence is the right and just option. So prolific offenders unwilling to comply with community orders or other orders of court will continue to feel the full force of our justice system.Table 1 (xlsx, 21.0KB)

Domestic Abuse: Non-molestation Orders

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring that non-molestation orders as result of domestic abuse should apply automatically to any children of the parent who has been abused.

Edward Argar: The Government has not made an assessment of the merits of requiring that non-molestation orders as result of domestic abuse should apply automatically to any children of the parent who has been abused and has no current plans to do so. Non-molestation orders can be extended to protect relevant children where this is considered necessary. Section 1 of the Children Act 1989 requires that the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration in all decisions made about them. An automatic provision, which would give no opportunity for this consideration, would risk undermining this principle. As well as non-molestation orders, the family court can make a range of orders to protect children and further their best interests. These include section 8 orders under the Children Act 1989 including prohibited steps order, specific issues orders and child arrangement orders.

Hate Crime: Christianity

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted in the UK for (a) offences relating to discrimination and (b) religiously motivated acts against Christians since 1997.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice publishes information on prosecutions, convictions and sentence outcomes in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2022 including offences as set out in the Offence Group Classification. This includes the number of prosecutions for religiously aggravated offences under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. However, whether these offences were motivated specifically against Christians is not held centrally in the Court Proceedings Database. This information may be held on court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

Prison Officers: Working Hours

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison officers attended their shifts at (a) HMP Huntercombe, (b) HMP Maidstone and (c) HMP Morton Hall on 1 September 2023.

Damian Hinds: Information on the number of Band 3 prison officers who were on duty in the prison on that day at HMP Huntercombe, HMP Maidstone and HMP Morton Hall on 1 September 2023, together with the reasons for absence, are set out in the table below:AttendanceHuntercombeMaidstoneMorton HallOn duty485544Annual Leave161613Training51115Sick Absence747Other Absences362It should be noted that these figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.The figures for those who were on duty in the prison on that day include all staff who attended for all or part of a shift, including any additional-payment shifts and night duties. Those recorded in the category of ‘Other Absences’ can include staff attending medical appointments, and those on restricted duties, phased return, secondment, maternity leave, jury service, official duty, parental leave, suspension or bed watch, as well as any working at a different grade, taking time off in lieu or working remotely.We have taken a series of measures to increase the prison workforce. Despite a challenging labour market, the 12 months ending 30 June 2023 saw an increase of 701 Full-Time-Equivalent Band 3-5 prison officers. This means we now have 4,000 more prison officers than in March 2017. We are committed to recruiting up to 5,000 prison officers across public and private prisons by the mid-2020s.We recently increased the pay of the vast majority of frontline officers by 7 per cent. Combined with other pay rises, this means starting pay for prison officers has increased since 2019 from £22,293 to £30,902 (on the basis of a national rate, 37-hour week with unsocial hours) or £23,529 to £32,851 (on the basis of a national rate, 39-hour week with unsocial hours).

Young Offender Institutions: Sexual Offences

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many sexual assaults by inmates on inmates were recorded in young offender institutions by institution in each of the last 10 years.

Damian Hinds: Safeguarding the children and young people in our care is a key priority for HM Prison & Probation Service. Sexual assaults in the Youth Secure Estate are rare. In the 10 years from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2023, there were seven sexual assaults in young offender institutions by children or young persons on other children or young persons.Owing to the small numbers involved, it is not possible to provide the requested breakdown without risking identification of victims.

Ministry of Justice: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October to Question 200250 on Ministry of Justice: Incentives, how much of the £5,860,748 in non-cash vouchers awarded to staff as performance related bonuses in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2021-22 went to staff identified in his Department's workforce management information as members of the core ministerial department.

Mike Freer: Of the total value of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff as performance related bonuses, the following amounts were made to the core ministerial department as identified within the department’s workforce management information:For the financial year 2021-22, a total of £772,519 was made to the core ministerial department staff.For the financial year 2022-23, a total of £425,551 was made to the core ministerial department staff.For reference, the core ministerial department has a grand total of 7,613 employees as of June 2023.

Department for Business and Trade

Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if her Department will publish quarterly updates on the (a) implementation and (b) operation of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.

Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to provide transitional support to people for the provision of neonatal care leave and statutory neonatal care pay between 24 May 2023 and the expected date of implementation of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 in April 2025.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government does not plan to legislate on proposals relating to people undergoing fertility treatment. Most employers want to be supportive of those who need time off work to attend medical appointments – including IVF. The Government is pleased to note that a range of organisations have all signed the Workplace Fertility Pledge, supporting individuals and couples going through fertility treatment. The Acas guidance on managing pregnancy and maternity includes a section on IVF.

Department for Business and Trade: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the value was of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for (a) her core Department, (b) the Department for International Trade, and (c) the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as performance-related bonuses in 2022-23.

Nigel Huddleston: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Business and Trade: Staff

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what her Department’s (a) budget and (b) staff headcount is for trade and investment hubs in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) Darlington.

Nigel Huddleston: The budgets and FTE for the trade and investment hubs, as at period end 30 September 2023, are:HubBudgetHeadcountScotland£1,775,60212Wales£1,351,77512Northern Ireland£1,251,97510This excludes the budget for the Northern Ireland Investment Summit.There are Trade and Investment staff based in Darlington; however, they work across part of a larger team which focus on a range of activities across the UK.

Department for Business and Trade: Trade Promotion

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many international trade advisors are employed by her Department; and in which regions of the UK they are located.

Nigel Huddleston: In England, DBT has 154 International Trade Advisers (ITAs) and at the time of writing a further 10 are currently undergoing the on-boarding process. ITAs are located across our three Super Region teams; Southern England, Midlands and the North. There are currently no DBT ITAs in the Nations, but we are engaging on how to introduce new resource that complements existing services offered by the Devolved Administrations and their agencies.

Fireworks: Regulation

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has held discussions with the German government on the impact of firework free zones on firework sale and use in Germany.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Department for Business and Trade has not held discussions with the German Government on the impact of fireworks free zones on firework sale and use in Germany.

Fireworks: Scotland

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has held discussions with the Scottish Government on the impact of measures to control firework sale and use under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles Act (Scotland) 2022.

Kevin Hollinrake: The UK Government has held discussions with the Scottish Government on the impact of measures to control firework sale and use under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 and we continue to engage with them on this matter.

Church Commissioners

Marriage: Sexual Intercourse

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what physical acts the Church refers to when teaching that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is forbidden.

Andrew Selous: The Living in Love and Faith process has always sought to recognise that the expression of sexual intimacy between two people cannot be reduced to a small set of defined actions.

Marriage: Homosexuality

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the General Synod papers on Living in Love and Faith circulated on 20 October 2023 reflect the current position of the (a) House and (b)College of Bishops.

Andrew Selous: Drafts of the material presented in the November Synod papers were seen and commented on by the College of Bishops and House of Bishops at their respective meetings on 18th September and 9th October. The papers for the November meeting of General Synod were drafted and agreed by the Chairs of the LLF steering group based on this feedback and noting the diversity of opinions held by the bishops.

Marriage: Homosexuality

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether a draft form of Pastoral Guidance for Ministry has been (a) prepared and (b) shared with the (i) House and (ii) College of Bishops.

Andrew Selous: Drafts of the section on Ministry in the Pastoral Guidance were shared with the College of Bishops and House of Bishops and on both occasions they asked for further work to be done. It is hoped that this will be completed as soon as possible, and I recognise that some are disappointed that this is not being brought to the November Synod.

Marriage: Homosexuality

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether a further letter threatening legal action was sent to the (a) House and (b) College of Bishops between the end of the meeting of the College and the House meeting in October.

Andrew Selous: Several items of correspondence were received over this period from a number of groups with different views, reflecting differing legal and theological opinions, as is widely in the public domain. Some offered a legal opinion on the routes of commendation or authorisation for the Prayers of Love and Faith, but I am not aware that any directly threatened the recipients with legal action.

Clergy: Marriage

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether there are recorded majorities in the (a) House and (b) College of Bishops to (i) allow clergy to enter into same-sex civil marriages and (ii) remove the stipulation that currently requires celibacy for clergy in same-sex relationships.

Andrew Selous: The proceedings of these meetings of the House of Bishops and College of Bishops, including details of votes, are confidential. Both the College and the House decided that further work should be done on allowing clergy to enter into same sex marriages, and on the stipulation that currently requires celibacy for clergy in same-sex relationships. It is stated in the General Synod papers (GS2328 and annexes: gs-2328-llf-nov-2023.pdf (churchofengland.org) ), that there is ‘further work on the Ministry elements of the Pastoral Guidance including on clergy in same-sex marriages’. It is hoped that this work will be done as quickly as is possible.

Religious Freedom: EU Countries and Middle East

Sir Conor Burns: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church's position is on freedom of religion in conflict zones in (a) the Middle East and (b) Europe.

Andrew Selous: The National Church Institutions recognise that freedom of religion or belief, like other human rights, is strongly correlated with political stability, and that repression of freedom of religion or belief, whether by societal hostility or state discrimination, can serve as major drivers of conflict and violence.Sadly, in too many parts of the world today, whether that be in Russia or Ukraine, or in Iraq and Israel, the discrimination against or targeting of religious minorities is commonly associated with rising social tensions, intercommunal strife, violence and even mass atrocities.

Cabinet Office

Subversion

Matt Vickers: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK elections are not affected by political interference by (a) China and (b) other countries.

Alex Burghart: It is, and always will be, an absolute priority for this government to protect our democratic and electoral processes against foreign interference.Last year, the Prime Minister established the Defending Democracy Taskforce to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign influence. Its mission is to reduce the risk to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.In addition, the National Security Act 2023 creates a new offence of foreign interference. This will make it an offence to illegitimately influence the UK’s democratic processes and elected officials on behalf of a foreign power. The offence will also significantly increase sentences for electoral offences if they are carried out on behalf of a foreign power. Related measures in the Online Safety Bill will require digital platforms to proactively take action against a wide range of state-sponsored disinformation and state-linked online interference, including digitally manipulated content, where this has the aim of interfering with UK elections.The Elections Act 2022 strengthened three important components of the political finance framework: fairness, transparency and controls against foreign spending. Since its introduction, the Government has restricted foreign campaign spending at elections and introduced a new requirement on political parties to declare their assets and liabilities over £500 upon registration. Foreign donations (and channelling foreign money) are already illegal. The Act also ensures greater transparency on digital campaigning, through the introduction of digital imprints.

Government Departments: Written Questions

Grahame Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times Government departments answered Named Day written parliamentary questions stating that it would not be possible to answer a question within the usual time period in each of the last five years.

Alex Burghart: Written parliamentary questions allow MPs and Peers to ask Ministers for information on the work, policy and activities of Government departments. Parliament has a right to hold Ministers to account and it is a recognised right of Parliament that Members receive full and timely responses. Where it is not possible to provide a Named Day answer in full on the specified date, a holding response should be provided to the MP to explain this. It is the responsibility of individual departments to provide timely answers to Parliamentary Questions from Members. The requested information is not centrally held by the Cabinet Office, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the Department.

High Speed 2 Line: Finance

Darren Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Infrastructure and Projects Authority received reports on the (a) budget and (b) expected costs of the High Speed Rail Two Project in (i) 2016 and (ii) 2017.

Alex Burghart: Yes.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: Monuments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to erect a permanent memorial to the late Duke of Edinburgh.

Alex Burghart: The Government and Royal Household announced on 3 September the creation of The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee and appointed its Chair, Lord Janvrin. The Committee will develop proposals for both a permanent memorial, and a national legacy programme that will allow everyone in the UK to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s life of service.The Government and Royal Household are still actively considering the most appropriate way to commemorate Prince Philip, the Late Duke of Edinburgh, as part of this process.

Titan Airways: Contracts

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his Department’s enabling agreement with Corporate Travel Management (North) Ltd. for the provision of public sector air capability (reference CCYZ20A01), what number of (a) club, (b) business and (c) economy seats were provided in the configuration for the A321neoLR plane wet-leased from Titan Airways between the periods (i) 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, (ii) 4 April to 8 June 2022, and (iii) 1 October 2022 to 1 September 2023.

Alex Burghart: The reconfiguration of seating arrangements enabled greater passenger capacity and more versatile seating. These efficiencies have allowed larger delegations, such as for trips to key international summits, to travel on a single flight. Delegations frequently include members of the media.  Economy SeatsBusiness SeatsConference Table SeatsTotal No. of Seats1 April 2021 - 31 March 202212448644 April to 2022 - 8 June 202212448641 October 2022 - 1 September 20233636880 The MSN 10238 airframe does not have any club seats within its configuration. More broadly, I would note that foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. It is in the national interest that Government Ministers and delegations can travel abroad to pursue UK interests and develop international relationships through closer economic, security and development ties. This has been the case under successive administrations of all parties. Information on the cost of overseas Ministerial travel is routinely published on gov.uk (including the number of officials who accompanied the Minister if non-scheduled travel was used). Given the Rt Hon Member’s keen interest in overseas travel, I would also point her and her staff to the frequent use of non-scheduled / charter flights under the last Labour Government, including by Gordon Brownhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel

Public Sector: Pay

Beth Winter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2023 to Question 124115 on Public Sector: Pay, whether he has had discussions with the Commissioner for Public Appointments on (a) engagement with unions, (b) time of settlements, (c) the delivery of multiyear deals, (d) revising the appointment process and (e) other reform of the public sector pay review bodies.

Alex Burghart: The pay review bodies are listed in the Schedule to the Public Appointments Order in Council. Appointments to these bodies are therefore regulated under the Order in Council and should be made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office. This process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who may also conduct thematic reviews on elements of the process to help inform best practice. Further to my previous answer, I have not discussed with the Commissioner the reform of the public appointments process with regard to public sector pay review bodies. The other issues raised in the question fall outside of the Commissioner’s remit as set out in the Order in Council and the Governance Code.

Death

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2023 to Question 196542 on Death, what assessment the Government has made of the causes of excess deaths in 2022.

Jeremy Quin: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 24th October is attached. UK Statistics Authority (pdf, 138.1KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Floods: Victims

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help support victims of flooding (a) by remedying flood damage and (b) with their mental health.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Flood Control: Finance

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding her Department has provided to help protect communities at risk of flooding in the last 12 months.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Flood Control

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help prepare communities for future flooding events.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Processed Food: Consumption

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help reduce the number of ultra-processed foods that are consumed by the public.

Mark Spencer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Flood Control: Staff

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many flood support officers were employed by her Department in each of the last five years.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Animal Products: Labelling

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish a response to the call for evidence on introducing method of production labelling for animal products in England.

Mark Spencer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Flood Control: Finance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many flood risk schemes have been allocated funding via the Flood Defence Grant in Aid; and in which locations funded schemes have been.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Sustainable Farming Incentive

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release entitled First farmers receive Sustainable Farming Incentive early payment, published 18 October 2023, how many and what proportion of Sustainable Farming Incentive (a) 2023 and (b) 2024 applicants have received their first payment as of 19 October 2023.

Mark Spencer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Furs: Import Controls

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to (a) monitor and (b) restrict fur imports from European countries, in the context of outbreaks of avian flu in Europe in 2023.

Mark Spencer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Flood Control: Finance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has (a) carried out a recent review of the allocation of Flood Defence Grant in Aid funding which will be available for flood risk schemes and (b) made an assessment of the effectiveness of that funding.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Women

Steven Bonnar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of SCS2 civil servants on full-time equivalent contracts in her Department are women.

Mark Spencer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond to the letters dated (a) 18 July 2023 and (b) 15 August 2023 from the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare on Ofwat’s water network policy reforms.

Rebecca Pow: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: South Shields

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to prevent Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from entering into the environment in South Shields constituency.

Rebecca Pow: A Defra report, produced in collaboration with the Environment Agency, conducted a study to determine the levels of PFAS chemicals in estuarine and coastal sediments - Science Search (defra.gov.uk). Results indicate there are a range of different PFAS present in English estuarine sediments, which included the Tyne estuary. Concentrations were found to be low in English estuary sediment. The Environment Agency continues to monitor PFAS in estuaries, and is currently considering levels across the water, biota and sediment. The Environment Agency have been developing risk profiles for several site types where PFAS release is likely to have occurred or may be ongoing because of different historic and current land uses. This work has provided valuable information about the distribution and sources of PFAS in the environment in England. Several strategies are being developed to manage risk from these sorts of sources and the potential release of PFAS. This risk profiling work has not identified any specific sites in South Shields. In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and Health and Safety Executive to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a 'Regulatory Management Options Analysis' (RMOA). Defra welcomed the RMOA recently published and is working with its partners to develop the recommendations for risk management measures, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.

Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: South Shields

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to collaborate with (a) water companies and (b) scientific experts on future investment in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances remediation for South Shields.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency (EA) has worked with water companies and their research body, UK Water Industry Research, on the Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP) since 2010. CIP has conducted investigations into PFOS and PFOA, and the CIP3 phase has established their concentrations in sewage works, their catchments and the receiving waters. Based on this work targeted investigations will be conducted in the next phase of CIP, known as CIP4, none of which need to be carried out in South Shields. In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and Health and Safety Executive to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a 'Regulatory Management Options Analysis' (RMOA). Defra welcomed the RMOA recently published and is working with its partners to develop the recommendations for risk management measures, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.

Department for Work and Pensions

Cost of Living

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help support people with increases in the cost of living.

Mims Davies: The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills. This includes up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments for households on eligible means-tested benefits. The next payment of £300 will be made between 31 October 2023 and 19 November 2023 for most people who are eligible, which follows on from the £301 payment issued in April 2023 to 8.3 million households. A further payment of £299 will be made by spring 2024 for those entitled. In addition, more than eight million pensioner households across the UK will receive an additional £300 Cost of Living Payment during winter 2023-24 paid as a top up to the winter fuel payment and 6.4 million individuals on eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits have also received a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment. For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government recently made available but are nevertheless in need of support. In the case of Westmorland and Furness, the local authority has been allocated £3,045,591 for this period. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion. From April, we uprated benefit rates and State Pensions by 10.1%, and in order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap levels also increased by the same amount. To support those who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.

Children: Maintenance

Dr Kieran Mullan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure parents pay child maintenance.

Mims Davies: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to support employers to encourage good musculoskeletal health in the workplace, in the context of levels of musculoskeletal-related economic inactivity in the workforce.

Tom Pursglove: The Government is taking several steps to help support employers to encourage good musculoskeletal (MSK) health in the workplace and reduce MSK-related economic inactivity. In October 2022, we published the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Health Toolkit for employers and further education institutions which encourages employers to support adolescents and young adults with MSK conditions. The Musculoskeletal health toolkit for employers was developed in partnership with Business in the Community and provides practical information for employers of all sizes to address MSK conditions in the workplace for the working age population. On the 24 January 2023, the Government announced plans to publish the Major Conditions Strategy (MCS). The Strategy will focus on six major groups of conditions including musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis. It will explore how we can tackle the key drivers of ill-health in England, reduce pressure on the NHS and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity. MSK is one of six key focuses of the MCS, which will be published early next year. In the Spring Budget of 15 March 2023, the Government also set out a package of measures to tackle the leading health-related causes keeping people out of work, including people with MSK conditions: Introducing employment advisors within MSK services, including to support people with MSK conditions to thrive in work;Piloting the WorkWell Partnerships Programme to support disabled people and people with health conditions who want help to work;Undertaking two consultations to understand how best to increase employer use of occupational health services;New investment to broaden access to additional Work Coach support for disabled people and people with health conditions; andIntroducing a new supported employment programme (Universal Support) for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, matching participants with open market jobs and funding support and training. The Government also has a range of initiatives to provide expert and tailored support for disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with MSK conditions, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include:Access to Work grants helping towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;Disability Confident, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace; andAn online Information Service called providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting health and disability in the workplace.

Access to Work Programme

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) recruit and (b) train more Access to Work advisors.

Tom Pursglove: There have been several recruitment and redeployment activities this year to increase the AtW Advisor staffing numbers. All of these staff will have comprehensive training when they join AtW to enable them to carry out their role. In January 2023 we recruited and redeployed 68 staff.During March and April 2023 an additional 25 case workers have been temporarily promoted to deliver the advisor role.In November 2023 a further 24 advisors are being redeployed and trained as Access to Work advisors.In November 2023 an external recruitment exercise will take place where an additional 25 advisors’ roles are expected to be recruited, where the planning assumption is that these staff will take up their posts by the end of March 2024.

Arthritis

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to assess which workplace interventions are suitable to help ensure that people with arthritis are able to remain in work.

Tom Pursglove: The Government has a range of initiatives to provide expert and tailored support for disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with arthritis, to start, stay and succeed in work. These focus on providing suitable interventions for each individual and helping employers to support their employees’ needs:Access to Work grants helping towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;Disability Confident, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace;An online Information Service called “Support with Employee Health and Disability”, providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting health and disability in the workplace;Increasing access to occupational health, including the testing of financial incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises and the self-employed;Work in partnership between the DWP and the health system, including the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) programme, a Supported Employment model (place, train and maintain) delivered in health settings, aimed at people with physical or common mental health conditions to support them to access paid jobs in the open labour market.

Access to Work Programme

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people who lost job opportunities in the time between an Access to Work assessment and its implementation in the last 12 months.

Tom Pursglove: This data is not routinely collected.

Employment and Support Allowance: National Insurance Contributions

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of claimants of New Style Employment Support Allowance were refused assistance because of insufficient National Insurance contributions during the covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make it his policy to reduce the requirement for National Insurance contributions in that period.

Tom Pursglove: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. As part of the Government's strategy to support people affected by the Coronavirus, we made a number of changes to ensure people who needed financial help could have access to the benefit system. People who were unable to claim New Style ESA due to insufficient National Insurance credits could alternatively make a claim for Universal Credit, which is a means tested benefit. There are no plans to change the New Style ESA contribution conditions for this period of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Work Capability Assessment: Parkinson's Disease

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Work Capability Assessment: activities and descriptors, published on 5 September 2023, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people who will no longer be deemed as having Limited Capacity for Work Related Activity under the planned reforms to the Work Capability Assessment who have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Tom Pursglove: The department has developed estimates of the number of claimants impacted across the range of options being considered in the Work Capability Assessment activities and descriptors consultation. The consultation runs until the 30th October, and we will continue to refine these estimates as responses are considered following the end of the consultation period. Estimates are not based on specific conditions because the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on their ability to work, not the condition itself.

Work Capability Assessment: Parkinson's Disease

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Work Capability Assessment: activities and descriptors, published on 5 September 2023, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the consultation on the (a) financial and (b) mental wellbeing of people with Parkinson's disease.

Tom Pursglove: The department has developed estimates of the number of claimants impacted across the range of options being considered in the Work Capability Assessment activities and descriptors consultation. The consultation runs until the 30th October, and we will continue to refine these estimates as responses are considered following the end of the consultation period. Estimates are not based on specific conditions because the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on their ability to work, not the condition itself.

Workplace Pensions

Dr Kieran Mullan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to expand Automatic Enrolment.

Dr Kieran Mullan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to increase their pension contributions.

Laura Trott: This government is clear about the importance of pension saving so that individuals can plan for the retirement they want. We recognise the current minimum contribution rates for automatic enrolment (AE) are unlikely to give all individuals the retirement to which they aspire. That is why we are committed to implementing the 2017 Review measures. Expanding AE to younger people and helping all eligible workers save from the first pound of earnings will boost overall saving levels, once fully implemented, by an extra £2 billion a year in pension contributions. Following the successful passage of the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Act 2023, supported by government, we have committed to consult on the detailed implementation of AE expansion and will do so at the earliest opportunity and report to Parliament before using the powers in the Act.

State Retirement Pensions

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of financial support provided to people on the State Pension.

Laura Trott: The Government remains committed to ensuring that older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. In April, the State Pension saw its biggest ever rise, increasing by 10.1%. The full yearly amount of the basic State Pension will be over £3,050 higher, in cash terms, than in 2010. That’s £790 more than if it had been uprated by Prices, and £945 more than if it had been uprated by earnings (since 2010).  The Government understands the pressures people including pensioners are facing with the cost of living and has put in place a significant package of measures. To ensure stability and certainty for households, the Government is providing a further £26bn in cost-of-living support for 2023/24. This is a substantial package of support which recognises the current additional costs faced by pensioners.

Pension Funds: Management

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress the Financial Markets and Law Committee’s working group is making on reforming the guidance on fiduciary duty for pension trustees.

Laura Trott: Government continues to work with the Financial Markets and Law Committee’s (FMLC) working group to review how best to clarify fiduciary duty, particularly in relation to climate change. The FMLC working group is independent from government. DWP looks forward to the publication of the group’s final report.

Pension Credit

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people claiming Pension Credit were born on or after April 2016.

Laura Trott: Pension Credit is only available to those of State Pension age. Therefore the number and proportion of people claiming Pension Credit who were born on or after April 2016, is zero. They are, at most, seven years old.

State Retirement Pensions: Terminal Illnesses

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing terminally ill people to claim their state pension early.

Laura Trott: The principle of having a State Pension age that is the same for everybody is fundamental in the UK. Unlike a personal or workplace pension, which can potentially be drawn earlier, it has always been the case that nobody can claim their State Pension early, before they reach their State Pension age. We have no current plans to change this principle. For those at the end of their life, the Government’s priority is providing financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way that the Department does this is through special benefit rules, sometimes referred to as “the Special Rules”. These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment, serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. For many years, the Special Rules have applied to people who have 6 months or less to live and now they have been changed so they apply to people who have 12 months or less to live.

Pension Funds: Management

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the extent to which his Department’s Stewardship Guidance is being followed by pension scheme trustees.

Laura Trott: We remain committed to reviewing the extent to which the Department’s Stewardship Guidance is being followed by pension scheme trustees to determine how far the guidance has helped trustees understand expectations around the Statement of Investment Principles (SIP) and Implementation Statement (IS), and whether improvements can be made.

Jobcentres

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of Jobcentre plus offering employment support to unemployed individuals not in receipt of out-of-work benefits.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for getting people into work and making work pay. A range of employment support is available to non-claimants, including Access to Work grants; Disability Confident, Intensive Personalised Employment Support; Work and Health Programme Pioneer; and the online information service – Support with Employee Health and Disability. The Government also works in partnership with health systems to deliver support including Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies, and the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) programme, delivered in health settings. In addition, non-claimants are able to attend DWP jobs fairs, which connect jobseekers with employers. The enhanced digital Mid-life MOT is also open to everybody and easy to access.

Social Security Benefits: Compensation

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the judgment in R (TD & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020] EWCA Civ 618, when his Department plans to introduce a remedy scheme in the context of that judgment; which claimants are to be included in the proposed scheme; and whether it is his Department's policy for the proposed scheme to offer beneficiaries the difference between the amount they would have received had their legacy benefits not been terminated and the amount received through Universal Credit.

Guy Opperman: We are working on the delivery process for implementing the remedy and will set out the details in due course.

Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help improve collections of debts from individuals who are not currently in receipt of Universal Credit; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Pursglove: The department is committed to improving debt collections from those individuals no longer in receipt of benefits, and we continue to investigate opportunities to ensure parity of treatment between those in receipt of a benefit, or in PAYE employment, and those who are not.

Offshore Industry: Scotland

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the impact on Storm Babet on the (a) welfare and (b) contracted working hours of offshore oil and gas workers.

Mims Davies: All offshore installation duty holders have management arrangements in place for a) the welfare and b) the contracted working hours for offshore oil and gas workers, which account for the potential impact of weather events. The implementation of these management arrangements is a part of normal offshore operations, and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions would have no need to specifically discuss this matter with the Health and Safety Executive.

Offshore Industry: Scotland

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on disruption to offshore helicopter transport services from (a) Aberdeen and (b) Sumburgh caused by Storm Babet.

Mims Davies: The nature of helicopter travel to and from offshore installations is such that all duty holders have well established contingency plans that they activate when weather conditions require the suspension of scheduled flights. As the implementation of such contingency plans are a part of normal offshore operations the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions would have no need to specifically discuss this matter with the Secretary of State for Transport.

Department for Transport

Bus Services: Franchises

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of franchising more local bus services.

Mr Richard Holden: The Government will support any Local Transport Authority wishing to franchise their bus services. The Bus Services Act 2017 provides automatic access to franchising powers to Mayoral Combined Authorities in England. Other authorities can request those powers from the Secretary of State but need to demonstrate that they have the capability and resources to deliver franchising, and that franchising is the best option to deliver improvements for passengers. The Department is currently revising the Bus Services Act 2017 Franchising Scheme Guidance, published in November 2017, to provide updated and detailed advice on the franchising process. Regarding the current action on Go North East, I hope both sides can come to a mutually acceptable agreement that delivers for passengers.

Bus Services: Franchises

Kerry McCarthy: What assessment he has made of the potential merits of franchising more local bus services.

Mr Richard Holden: The Government will support any Local Transport Authority wishing to franchise their bus services. The Bus Services Act 2017 provides automatic access to franchising powers to Mayoral Combined Authorities in England. Other authorities can request those powers from the Secretary of State but need to demonstrate that they have the capability and resources to deliver franchising, and that franchising is the best option to deliver improvements for passengers. The Department is currently revising the Bus Services Act 2017 Franchising Scheme Guidance, published in November 2017, to provide updated and detailed advice on the franchising process. Regarding the current action on Go North East, I hope both sides can come to a mutually acceptable agreement that delivers for passengers.

Roads: Accidents

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to help reduce road deaths of cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Richard Holden: In January 2022 this Government updated The Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. Changes aim to initiate a positive shift in road user behaviour by making road users aware of their responsibility to use roads safely and reduce the danger they may pose to others.

High Speed 2 Line: Cost Effectiveness

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the cancellation of the second phase of HS2 on the value for money of the project.

Huw Merriman: The economic assessment of the decision to proceed with building HS2 between Euston and Birmingham Curzon Street was set out in the Accounting Officer Assessment published by the Department on 5 October 2023. Every penny of the £36bn of savings from cancelling future phases of HS2 will be invested in transport project across the country, including considerable investment in the North East.

Railways: North of England

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to deliver major rail infrastructure improvements in the north of England.

Huw Merriman: The Government is committed to delivering major rail infrastructure improvements in England and Wales including the north of England. We are committed to investing in the transport that really matters to people. Network Rail are developing options to improve the capacity and resilience of Sheffield station, that can be delivered in the shorter term within the existing constraints of the station footprint, including platform extensions and track upgrades. This work will underpin the future improvements set out in Network North including electrification of the Hope Valley Line, delivering increased capacity and journey time savings.

Railways: Scotland

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the cancellation of the second stage of HS2 on rail travel in Scotland.

Huw Merriman: £36 billion will be reinvested from the scrapping of Phase Two of the HS2 project. Under our Network North plan, connections across the UK will be strengthened, including through funding for targeted improvements to the A75 in Scotland. Rail is devolved in Scotland, so decisions on rail travel in Scotland are for the Scottish Government.

Delivery Services: Robots

Ben Everitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, If he will take steps to support the adoption of autonomous pavement delivery robots.

Jesse Norman: We must balance the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users with the potential benefits of this novel technology. I am pleased to confirm that the Department will be funding research to further its understanding of the impacts of this new technology. The results will be published once the research has concluded.

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many zero emission buses had been allocated Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas funding as of 23 October 2023; and how many of these buses (a) have been ordered and (b) are on the road as of that date.

Mr Richard Holden: Since February 2020, an estimated 4,200 ZEBs have been funded across the UK. The first round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme provided £270m funding to 16 local transport authorities in England outside London. The scheme will fund up to 1,309 zero emission buses, though this is subject to change as projects are progressed by local transport authorities. The second round of the scheme was launched in September, with £129m funding to be provided to schemes by March 2024.

Railways: Infrastructure

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to (a) improve the speed and (b) reduce the cost of delivering rail infrastructure projects.

Huw Merriman: We work closely with Network Rail to improve the speed and cost of delivering rail infrastructure projects. Network Rail set up Rail SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery) as a mechanism to identify ways to increase the efficiency of rail infrastructure delivery.

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of zero emission buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme have been allocated per local transport authority, and per manufacturer.

Mr Richard Holden: The following table presents information on the number of zero emission buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme by local transport authority. The numbers in this table are not official statistics: they are based on the latest information available and are therefore indicative and subject to change. Where available, information has been provided on the status of the buses and the name of the bus manufacturer has been included.Local Transport Authority  Number of buses fundedNumber of buses orderedBus manufacturer Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority3030VolvoKent County Council3355 buses manufactured by Volvo. 28 - IrizarLeicester City Council116116110 – Wrightbus    6 – Pelican/YutongWarrington Borough Council105105VolvoSouth Yorkshire Combined Authority27274 – Alexander Dennis Ltd    23 – Pelican/YutongNorfolk County Council7070WrightbusNorth Yorkshire County Council393920 – EvoBus/Mercedes 19 – Alexander Dennis LtdPortsmouth City Council & Hampshire County Council6262WrightbusBlackpool Council900Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator.Nottingham City Council682424 - Pelican/Yutong    Bus manufacturer for remaining buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator.Greater Manchester Combined Authority170170VolvoHertfordshire County Council*270Bus manufacturer for remaining buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator.West Midlands Combined Authority1240Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator.City of York Council5353WrightbusWest Yorkshire Combined Authority1367257 – Wrightbus  15 – Mercedes Bus manufacturer for remaining buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator.Oxfordshire County Council159159104 - Wrightbus    55 – Alexander Dennis Ltd    1,309932

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2023 to Question 193239 on Buses: Exhaust Emissions, whether the 4,233 zero-emission buses include buses which were (a) funded or (b) delivered before February 2020.

Mr Richard Holden: None of the zero-emission buses outlined in my answer of the 13 July were funded, ordered or delivered prior to February 2020.

Bus Services: Vacancies

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle high levels of bus and coach driver vacancies in England.

Mr Richard Holden: Whilst it is the responsibility of the sector to recruit and retain drivers, the Department for Transport regularly engages with industry to understand issues in recruiting and retaining bus and coach drivers, and how Government can help. Latest intelligence from the sector suggests that the shortage has reduced over the course of this year.The Department for Transport and Confederation of Passenger Transport co-chaired a Bus and Coach Summit in November 2022. The summit brought together experts from industry, national and local government to look at issues facing driver recruitment and retention to bus and coach operators, and identified ideas and actions to help address these. Many of these are owned by industry, who as aforementioned, are responsible for recruiting drivers.We are also ensuring there is sufficient access to Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) practical driving tests, whether through the bus and coach industry’s network of delegated examiners, or directly through Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency test centres.

Passenger Ships

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cruise ship passengers visited (a) UK ports and (b) surrounding areas as part of their itinerary in the last 12 months; and if he will make an assessment of the contribution of these visits to the economy.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department for Transport does not hold data on transit cruise passengers, so we are unable to provide data on the number of cruise ship passengers who visited UK ports and surrounding areas as part of their itinerary in the last 12 months or an assessment of the contribution of these visits to the economy. The Department for Transport does publish cruise passengers who start or finish their cruise journey at a UK port, which includes all passengers on domestic and international cruise journeys.  The data published by the Department for Transport on cruise passenger numbers can be found at the following link in table SPAS0101 for international cruise passenger numbers and SPAS0201 for domestic cruise passenger numbers. Sea passenger statistics: data tables (SPAS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Motor Vehicles: Farms

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many farm vehicle accidents there have been in the last five years.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department’s road safety statistics cover personal injury collisions reported by police which occur on the public highway.The number of such collisions in Great Britain which involved an agricultural vehicle in each of the last 5 years are shown in the table. YearNumber of collisions20184822019420202043320214142022401

High Speed 2 Line

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2023 to Question 202776 on High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase, what the cost to the public purse was of the acquisition of land within Phase 2a Act limits.

Huw Merriman: The total cost of acquiring land on Phase 2a via compulsory purchase or statutory blight as of 30 September 2023 is £136.51 million.

High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on the sale of properties that were subject to compulsory purchase orders on the HS2 phase two route.

Huw Merriman: Any land and property that is no longer required will be sold, and a programme is being developed to do this. Where any land or property has been acquired compulsorily or via statutory blight and is no longer required, it will be sold subject to the Crichel Down Rules. These require government departments, under certain circumstances, to offer back surplus land to the former owner or the former owner’s successors at the current market value. All land and property will be assessed prior to disposal.

Railways: Crewe

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve rail services for passengers in Crewe.

Huw Merriman: The Department continues to work closely with train operating companies to review options to improve performance and increase services to and from Crewe. Together we are working to develop a resilient timetable that is appropriate to passenger demand and delivers good value for the taxpayer. West Midlands Trains (WMT) will be improving its Birmingham - Crewe - Liverpool services from December 2023 by increasing services to half hourly on this route at peak times and for most of the day on Saturdays. WMT is also trialling 12-car train operation on selected Sunday services on its Crewe to Euston route due to rising demand.

High Speed 2 Line: Business and Housing

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) properties and (b) businesses purchased for Phase 2B of HS2 his Department intends to sell.

Huw Merriman: Any land and property that is no longer required will be sold, and a programme is being developed to do this. An assessment of the exact numbers of land and property assets that will be sold has yet to be made as some of the assets will be retained for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of the 19 October 2023 to Question 202776 on High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase, how many (a) homes and (b) businesses were acquired through compulsory purchase orders on HS2 Phase 2a; and what was the total cost of those acquisitions.

Huw Merriman: The land that HS2 Ltd acquires via compulsory purchase orders is not categorised by whether it contains a home or a business. The total cost of acquiring land on Phase 2a via compulsory purchase or statutory blight as of 30 September 2023 is £136.51 million.

High Speed 2 Line: Euston Station

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the methodology on the basis of which he has concluded Euston HS2 station can be delivered without public funding.

Huw Merriman: The Network North paper published by the Department for Transport on 4 October 2023 sets out that we will appoint a development company, separate from HS2 Ltd, to manage the delivery of this project. We will also take on the lessons of success stories such as Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, which secured £9 billion of private sector investment and thousands of homes. So we will harness the future growth that the station will unleash to support its development, to ensure we get the best possible value for the British taxpayer - and ensure that funding is underpinned by contributions from those people and businesses its development supports.

High Speed 2 Line: Euston Station

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of platforms at the Euston HS2 terminus on commuters.

Huw Merriman: Following the rephasing of works at Euston announced in March 2023, work commenced on developing an affordable and deliverable scheme for the HS2 Euston Station including looking at options to reduce the number of platforms to match expected levels of service over time. This will continue under the new arrangements for Euston announced as part of Network North.

Question

Neale Hanvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on (a) allocating additional resources, (b) deploying specialist drainage teams and (c) recruiting and retaining qualified maintenance staff to (i) pre-empt and (ii) mitigate the impact of (A) flooding and (B) landslips on railway network infrastructure.

Neale Hanvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps with Network Rail to (a) put additional resources in place and (b) deploy specialist teams to deal with drainage issues across the railway network as part of Network Rail’s Modernising Maintenance project, in the context of the derailment at Carmont near Stonehaven in August 2020.

Huw Merriman: Maintaining world leading levels of rail safety remains our top priority in rail. My department has committed £44.1 billion to Network Rail to spend on operations, maintenance, and renewal work on the network in England and Wales during Control Period 7. A further £4.2 billion has been made available to Network Rail Scotland for similar purposes to drive improvements in safety and reliability. Network Rail is responsible for mitigating risks associated with drainage issues within this funding settlement and in accordance with rail safety legislation.

High Speed 2 Line: Euston Station

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of platforms at the Euston HS2 terminus on station capacity.

Huw Merriman: Following the rephasing of works at Euston announced in March 2023, work commenced on developing an affordable and deliverable scheme for the HS2 Euston Station including looking at options to reduce the number of platforms to match expected levels of service over time. This will continue under the new arrangements for Euston announced as part of Network North.

High Speed 2 Line

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the cancelation of the HS2 Phase 2 line between Birmingham and Manchester on the Alstom train factory in Derby.

Huw Merriman: Trains for phases beyond Phase 1 had not yet been ordered, and therefore there is currently no effect on the Alstom train factory. The Hitachi / Alstom joint venture has an order for delivery of the Phase 1 trains.

High Speed 2 Line: Land

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to sell land brought by HS2 Ltd which is no longer required following the cancellation of phase 2 of HS2.

Huw Merriman: Any land and property that is no longer required will be sold, and a programme is being developed to do this.

Question

Neale Hanvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle flooding on the railway network following Storm Babet.

Huw Merriman: Government expects Network Rail to prepare for a range of severe weather events, drawing on previous experience. However, during some particularly severe weather events, it will not be possible, or safe, to run services. We have monitored the situation and engaged with affected operators to understand the impact on passengers following Storm Babet. Network Rail’s resilience taskforce was established in 2022 and is being led by independent experts. Their recommendations to improve weather resilience on the network are already being put into effect, including renewed investment in Network Rail’s capability and use of weather data and technology, upskilling of its workforce, and improving inspections and examinations of drainage assets. Flooding is likely to become more frequent as a result of climate change. In 2022 the Department for Transport published the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) which outlines the Secretary of State’s objectives for Network Rail’s operation, maintenance and renewal of railway infrastructure in England and Wales between 2024 and 2029—tied to a £44.1 billion funding settlement. The HLOS is clear that the rail network must be as resilient as reasonably possible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather, including flooding. Scotland has a further £4.2bn available, with the Scottish Government responsible for determining priorities for the Scottish network.

Railways: Bristol

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent estimate of the cost of (a) extending MetroWest to the south of Bristol, covering Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Exeter, Worle and Weston-super-Mare Parkway, (b) providing step-free access across the West of England rail network and (c) completing electrification between Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Chippenham.

Huw Merriman: As part of the £36 billion Network North announcement we have committed £100 million to be made available to the West of England Combined Authority, which may wish to consider its suitability for further expanding the MetroWest network, providing greater step free access and electrification schemes.

Question

Neale Hanvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to help provide additional resources to tackle flooding on the railway network following Storm Babet.

Huw Merriman: Network Rail’s resilience taskforce was established in 2022 and is being led by independent experts. Their recommendations to improve weather resilience on the network are already being put into effect, including renewed investment in Network Rail’s capability and use of weather data and technology, upskilling of its workforce, and improving inspections and examinations of drainage assets. Flooding is likely to become more frequent as a result of climate change. In 2022 the Department for Transport published the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) which outlines the Secretary of State’s objectives for Network Rail’s operation, maintenance and renewal of railway infrastructure in England and Wales between 2024 and 2029—tied to a £44.1 billion funding settlement. The HLOS is clear that the rail network must be as resilient as reasonably possible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather, including flooding. Scotland has a further £4.2bn available, with the Scottish Government responsible for determining priorities for the Scottish network. The Department for Transport is developing a transport adaptation strategy, taking a holistic approach to addressing the transport-related risks in the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.

Railways: Somerset

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of carrying out a feasibility study into reconnecting historic rail connections to the Gravity business park site in Somerset.

Huw Merriman: Network Rail has undertaken an assessment of how a rail connection might be reinstated to the Gravity site.

Railways: Electrification

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of delivering electrification projects in the 2015 Hendy Review on journey times between Bristol and economic centres in South-Wales and London.

Huw Merriman: Electrification was completed between Heathrow Airport Junction and Cardiff in 2020, delivering journey time improvements between London and South Wales of up to 14 minutes.

Question

Neale Hanvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on the Modernising Maintenance project.

Huw Merriman: The Department regularly holds meetings with Network Rail, where ongoing projects and reforms are discussed including Network Rail’s Maintenance Modernisation reform project.

High Speed 2 Line: West Coast Main Line

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2023 to Question 203238 on High Speed 2 Line: West Coast Main Line, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of HS2 using the West Coast Mainline on (a) local rail services in south-east Greater Manchester and (b) the viability of new local rail services in south-east Greater Manchester before any decision is made on HS2 services diverting onto the West Coast Mainline through Stockport.

Huw Merriman: Decisions on the train service that will run when HS2 opens will consider impacts on other rail services and up-to-date information on passenger demand, including those at Stockport Station.

High Speed 2 Line: Land

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's expected timeline is for selling all land previously acquired for Phase 2B of HS2; and who has oversight of this.

Huw Merriman: Any land and property that is no longer required will be sold, and a programme is being developed to do this. It will take some time to develop this programme, and we will set out further detail on these next steps, and will engage in full with those communities who are affected as we do.

High Speed 2 Line: Stockport

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2023 to Question 203236 on High Speed 2 Line: Stockport, when he plans to have completed the assessment of the potential impact of HS2 trains using the West Coast Mainline on rail capacity at Stockport station.

Huw Merriman: The assessment of the impact of HS2 services on Stockport station will be considered as part of the train service development undertaken by the West Coast Partnership Development, Network Rail and HS2 Ltd. This programme is currently being developed to reflect the changes to the HS2 programme.

High Speed 2 Line: Greater London

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he held discussions with potential private funders on the HS2 Euston tunnel and terminus prior to the publication of the Network North plans.

Huw Merriman: DfT and HS2 Ltd have consulted and commissioned studies on private finance and have regular discussions with potential private funders. We continually review the best ways to deliver and fund our major infrastructure projects, including harnessing the private sector to finance and deliver projects where appropriate. Following the Network North announcement ministers here and at HM Treasury have had a series of roundtables with investors and the supply chain to talk about opportunities including Euston.

High Speed 2 Line: Land

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of the cancellation of the HS2 Phase 2 line between Birmingham and Manchester on levels of employment in the (a) construction, (b) engineering, (c) management and (d) mechanic sectors.

Huw Merriman: The large majority of jobs on HS2 are currently working on the delivery of Phase 1, and the Prime Minister has confirmed that the Government will complete Phase 1 of HS2 between Birmingham and London. There will be significant opportunities for contractual work through the new investment plans that are outlined in Network North, providing job opportunities across the range of projects in the delivery pipeline. These job opportunities are likely to range across a variety of sectors including construction, engineering, management and mechanic.

High Speed 2 Line

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the HS2 ministerial taskforce has met since 25 October 2022.

Huw Merriman: Since November 2022 regular ministerial meetings regarding HS2 have taken place between the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, and the Secretary of State for Transport has also met the HS2 Ltd Board on two occasions. The Task Force will be meeting in November.

Railways: Stockport

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2023 to Question 203239 on High Speed 2 Line: West Coast Main Line, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reconfiguring Heaton Norris Junction to (a) facilitate new local rail services through Stockport, (b) retain local rail services through Stockport and (c) facilitate future orbital Tram-Train services along the Stockport-Stalybridge line.

Huw Merriman: The announcement on 4 October launching Network North represents a significant new £36bn programme of transport investment across the country. Regarding services through Stockport, following this announcement, we are in the early stages of planning next steps, including delivery timelines for these schemes and are working closely with Network Rail. Regarding future orbital Tram-Train services along the Stockport-Stalybridge line and the merits of upgrading Heaton Norris Junction, the Department has received a Restoring your Railway bid to upgrade the existing line between Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne.

High Speed 2 Line: Greater London

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the time it will take to deliver private finance for the (a) tunnel and (b) terminus for Euston HS2.

Huw Merriman: The Network North paper published by the Department for Transport on 4 October 2023 sets out that we will appoint a development company, separate from HS2 Ltd, to manage the delivery of this project. We will also take on the lessons of success stories such as Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, which secured £9 billion of private sector investment and thousands of homes. So we will harness the future growth that the station will unleash to support its development, to ensure we get the best possible value for the British taxpayer - and ensure that funding is underpinned by contributions from those people and businesses its development supports.

Railways: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer given on 23 October 2023 to Question 203240 on Railways: Greater Manchester, if he will take steps to ensure the Manchester Taskforce consults with the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish on utilising the line through Reddish South and Denton constituency while considering capacity options in the south east Manchester rail corridor.

Huw Merriman: The Manchester Taskforce includes representatives from organisations such as Transport for Greater Manchester and Transport for the North to ensure local views are considered. They will continue to work closely with Transport for Greater Manchester as the promoter for the Restoring Your Railway bid to upgrade the existing line between Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne.

Rapid Transit Systems: Leeds

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) local authority leaders and (b) the Mayor of West Yorkshire on the Network North plans for the Leeds mass transit system to provide better connections to Wakefield.

Huw Merriman: Since publication of the Network North paper, DfT ministers have spoken to a range of local MPs and local leaders, including the Mayor of West Yorkshire. This includes during a visit by the Secretary of State and Rail Minister to Bradford on 5th October. We will continue to engage closely with partners and local leaders as delivery plans are defined to ensure that projects deliver the services that people need and want.

High Speed 2 Line

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the next HS2 six-monthly report.

Huw Merriman: We remain committed to providing timely and accurate updates to Parliament. The next six-monthly report will be published in due course.

High Speed 2 Line: Costs

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of planning sections of HS2 that have since been cancelled.

Huw Merriman: The Department is working with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain to assess this.

Marks Tey Station: Disability

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to provide resources to support the provision of step-free access between platforms at Marks Tey railway station.

Huw Merriman: We are currently assessing over 300 nominations for Access for All funding beyond 2024, including a nomination for Marks Tey railway station. If successful, the funding would deliver an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to platforms.

Great Western Railway: Electrification

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the initial cost estimate for the Great Western Rail Electrification Project was; and what was the (a) final cost and (b) total length of (i) rail electrified and (ii) rail left unelectrified (A) between Cardiff and Swansea, (B) on the Bath Spur and (C) on the Bristol Temple Meads Spur when removed from project scope.

Huw Merriman: The 2013 cost estimate for the electrification of the 121 miles of the Great Western Main Line between Heathrow Airport Junction and Cardiff was £1.7 billion. The work was completed in 2020 at a cost of £2.8 billion. The scope of the Great Western Electrification Programme was reduced in 2015 with the removal of the 45 miles between Cardiff and Swansea, the 30 miles between Chippenham and Bristol Temple Meads via Bath, and the five miles between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads.

Avanti West Coast: Contracts

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's News story of 19 September 2023 entitled Avanti West Coast awarded long-term contract after significant improvements for passengers, whether there was a (a) requirement to award and (b) formal tender process for that contract.

Huw Merriman: When considering its available options, the Department assessed these against the relevant criteria. Open competition was considered but was unviable due to time available and market conditions, and it would not have been possible to deliver a contract which represented value for money for the taxpayer. A direct award was considered the appropriate course of action. It is the Government’s intention to return to competition as soon as it is feasible to do so.

High Speed 2 Line: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of preparations by officials for parliamentary scrutiny of sections of HS2 that have since been cancelled.

Huw Merriman: The High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Act, which covers Phase 2a, received Royal Assent in February 2021. In January 2022, the Government introduced the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill into Parliament. Spending on phase 2a and b up to and including February 2023 is reported in the Department for Transport’s last HS2 report to Parliament in June 2023.

Railways: East of England and South West

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve connectivity between the east and west of England.

Huw Merriman: We are changing our approach to transport across the country with the announcement of Network North. We are investing in schemes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail which will connect some of the North’s biggest towns and cities with faster, more frequent electrified services; East West Rail, a new railway line that will provide east-west connectivity across the Oxford-Cambridge region; improvements to the A50/A500 corridor; and the A66 project between M6 junction 40 at Penrith and A1(M) at Scotch Corner which will widen to dual-carriageway standard the remaining six single-carriageway sections and upgrade major junctions.

Electric Vehicles: Insurance

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Government's net zero policies on the cost of insurance for electric vehicles.

Jesse Norman: The transition to zero emission vehicles is crucial to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Electric vehicles offer most drivers savings in terms of lower running and maintenance costs. The Government is working closely with the insurance sector to ensure that the transition to zero emission vehicles is sustainable and cost effective. The insurance sector will continue to evolve in line with the growing EV market, and as data becomes more available to inform insurance premiums.

Cars: Fuels

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030.

Jesse Norman: The recent introduction of the world-leading zero emission vehicle mandate will support future supply of zero emission vehicles, by setting a minimum percentage of manufacturer’s new car and van sales to be zero emission each year from 2024. To facilitate the transition to zero emission vehicles, the Government is also working with industry to increase the number of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints. The Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy sets out the steps being taken to support the deployment of these chargepoints across the country.

Electric Vehicles: Prices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of trends in the price of electric cars (a) in 2022-2023 and (b) predicted for 2023-24.

Jesse Norman: The cost of electric cars is projected to fall rapidly over the next two to three years as energy prices normalise and electric car production costs continue to fall. DfT forecasts are that by 2026, a typical fully electric car will cost the same to lease and operate as an equivalent petrol car, once lower running costs are considered. From 2027 onwards the forecast is that it will be cheaper to lease and operate a fully electric car than a petrol equivalent.

Future Mobility Zones Fund

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Future Mobility Zones Fund.

Jesse Norman: The Department has made no assessment of the effectiveness of the Future Mobility Zones Fund. An external evaluation of Future Transport Zones (as the zones were renamed) has been commissioned and is still in progress.

Helicopters: Storms

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many offshore helicopter transport flights were cancelled as a result of weather warnings issued in connection with Storm Babet.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of Storm Babet on contracts between offshore helicopter operators and duty holders in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Jesse Norman: Safety is of primary importance in aviation. Helicopter operators throughout the UK are responsible for their own operations, and for ensuring they remain aware of weather and storm warnings. Contracts between offshore helicopter operators and duty holders are commercial contracts between the parties, and the Department has no role in them. Helicopter flights are private operations and the Department does not hold data on helicopter flight cancellations.

Electric Scooters: Pilot Schemes

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to renew e-scooter trials beyond May 2024.

Jesse Norman: No decision has been made on renewing the e-scooter trials beyond May 2024.

High Speed 2 Line

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish maps of the (a) properties and (b) land purchased by HS2 Ltd for Phase 2b east of the HS2 project.

Huw Merriman: The ownership of properties by the Secretary of State for Transport is a matter of public record and available through the Land Registry.

Electric Scooters

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on parliamentary time for legislation on e-scooters.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of allowing privately owned scooters.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring e-scooter users to be licensed.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government’s evaluation of the e-scooter trials, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of escooter use on Government targets relating to (a) carbon emissions and (b) active travel.

Jesse Norman: His Majesty The King will set out the Government's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session on 7 November.The Government recognises that people want to take advantage of the opportunities e-scooters can offer. The Department is committed to encouraging innovation in transport, whilst ensuring new modes of transport are safe and secure by design.There are several potential benefits to micromobility vehicles. They offer an alternative means of transport to those who would usually drive a car, and they could be an additional means of transport for people with certain disabilities.E-scooters are less polluting than petrol and diesel powered vehicles at point of use. Therefore, using an e-scooter instead of driving is expected to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The Department’s national evaluation of the e-scooter trials estimated a total reduction between 269 to 348 tonnes of CO2e (to December 2021) across five case study areas due to modal shift from cars to rental e-scooters. However, more data needs to be gathered to understand lifecycle emissions of rental e-scooters.The Department is aware of the observed mode shift from active travel to micromobility in the trials. The evaluation found that by December 2021 rental e-scooter journeys most commonly replaced walking journeys (42 per cent), followed by private motor vehicles or taxis (21 per cent). However, the proportion of walking journeys replaced reduced over time, while the proportion of private motor vehicle or taxi journeys being replaced increased over time. The evaluation also found that frequent rental users were less likely to have travelled by foot in the absence of a rental e-scooter than infrequent users.Users of e-scooters in current trials are required to have a provisional driving licence. The Department is currently considering options for e-scooter regulations and will publicly consult before any new regulations come into force, including on licensing.

Helicopters: Storms

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on the operation of offshore helicopter transport services during Storm Babet.

Jesse Norman: Safety is of primary importance in aviation. Helicopter operators throughout the UK are responsible for their own operations, and for ensuring they remain aware of weather and storm warnings. The Secretary of State has not held meetings with the Civil Aviation Authority on the operation of offshore helicopter transport services during Storm Babet.

Buses: Driving

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a summary of the outcomes of the Bus and Coach Driver Summit hosted by his Department and the Confederation of Passenger Transport in November 2022.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department for Transport and Confederation of Passenger Transport co-chaired a Bus and Coach Summit in November 2022. The summit brought together experts from industry, national and local government to look at issues facing driver recruitment and retention to bus and coach operators, and identified ideas and actions to help address these. Many of these are owned by industry, who as aforementioned, are responsible for recruiting drivers. While the Department has no current plans to publish the full list of outcomes from the summit, some of the issues raised require action from the Department for Transport.

Sustrans: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has provided to Sustrans in each of the last six years.

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what work Sustrans has provided to his Department and its agencies in each of the last six years.

Jesse Norman: In each of the last six years, funding was provided to Sustrans as follows: £4.65m (2017/18), £26.2m (2018/19), £4.1m (2019/20), £19.4m (2020/21), and £49.5m (2021/22). No funding was provided in 2022/23. In the last six years, Sustrans has managed four programmes of work for the Department for Transport and Active Travel England. £75m has been provided to upgrade the National Cycle Network. £9.8m has been provided under the Cycle Rail programme for cycle racks, cycle security measures and links to railway stations. £6.3m has been provided under the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Planning (LCWIP) programme to help local authorities to develop LCWIPs, including training and evidence collection. £13m has been provided for cycling and walking paths around the route of HS2.

Electric Vehicles: South West

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to make electric vehicles accessible to consumers in (a) Bournemouth East constituency and (b) the South West.

Jesse Norman: The Department is supporting local authorities, such as Bournemouth, to install charging infrastructure through its £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. Through LEVI, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have seen £1,447,000 of capital funding and £373,000 of capability funding. Across the South West region, local authorities have been allocated £40,102,000 capital funding and £5,440,000 capability funding through the LEVI Fund. In addition, local authorities in the South West have received £2,364,787 through the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS).

Driving Tests

Andy Carter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on (a) increasing the availability of driving tests and (b) reducing the wait time between bookings for people retaking their tests.

Mr Richard Holden: As of 23 October 2023, there were 571,820 car practical driving tests booked, and 72,787 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is taking all the measures it can to reduce driving test waiting times. This includes carrying out overtime, such as at weekends and on public holidays, buying back annual leave from driving examiners (DE) and, inviting recently retired DEs to return to work. Since April 2021, measures put in place by the DVSA to reduce waiting times for its customers, together with the ongoing recruitment of DEs, is creating on average over 40,000 extra car test slots each month. The DVSA has also deployed all eligible managers and administrative staff back on the front line to do driving tests from the beginning of October 2023 until the end of March 2024, which will create around 150,000 test slots.

Driving Licences: Reviews

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the Driving licensing review - call for evidence on opportunities for changes to the driver licensing regime.

Mr Richard Holden: The results of the Call for Evidence were published on 6 June 2023.The results are being analysed and we will confirm the next steps in due course.

Lower Thames Crossing: Procurement

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure responsible procurement by National Highways for the Lower Thames Crossing.

Mr Richard Holden: National Highways is procuring the Lower Thames Crossing, including the contract for the road tunnels and approaches, in accordance with UK procurement rules. This includes wider international obligations on government procurements.

Pedestrian Areas: City of Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient pavement grit is available for winter 2023-24 in the City of Durham constituency.

Mr Richard Holden: Pavement grit is a matter for Durham County Council.

Transport: North of England

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding he plans to allocate to Network North plans in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26, (c) 2026-27, (d) 2027-28, (e) 2028-29 and (f) 2029-2030.

Huw Merriman: Network North will see the investment of £36 billion in transport improvements across the whole country. This includes a wide range of schemes, which will be delivered at various times over the next decade and beyond. We are working with our delivery partners for each project to develop detailed plans. In due course, we will share further details of projects to be delivered and anticipated funding where appropriate. In the meantime, we are immediately extending the £2 national bus fare cap, which will now continue until December 2024. We are also making £300m of funding available to improve the condition of local roads across this financial year and next. Next financial year, there will also be an additional £150m of funding to support bus services through Bus Service Improvement Plans.

High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) homes and (b) businesses were acquired through compulsory purchase orders for HS2 Phase (i) 2a and (i) 2b.

Huw Merriman: There is 29.2 km² of land within Phase 2a Act limits. As at 30 September 2023, 12.3 km² has been permanently acquired and 5.7 km² has been taken temporarily on compulsory terms. No properties have been acquired permanently or temporarily on Phase 2b (Western and Eastern Legs, including HS2 East) through compulsory purchase orders. Compulsory acquisition can only take place once provided for by Act of Parliament.

Treasury

Personal Savings: Taxation

Andy Carter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure consistency of collection of tax on the interest of savings that are not due until maturity of the savings bond.

Andrew Griffith: The taxation of interest arising on savings bonds depends on the terms and conditions applying to each and may differ as not all savings bonds are the same. Income tax is charged on the full amount of interest ‘arising’ to a person in a tax year and interest normally ‘arises’ when the amount is received or is credited to an account on which the holder is free to draw. The terms of a savings bond may be that interest is credited each year and, once credited, the bondholder is able to draw on it. In this case, the interest arises each year and is taxed each year as it is credited. On the other hand, it is possible that interest may be credited each year, but the terms of the bond may mean the bondholder cannot draw on it or benefit from it until the end of the term. In that case all the interest paid on the bond would be regarded as ‘arising’ when it became available to the bondholder on maturity of the bond. This long-standing position is explained in HMRC’s guidance at SAIM2440, and there have been no recent changes. In either case, to the extent that the interest arising in any year is not covered by personal allowances, such as the Personal Savings Allowance, the tax will be collected in the same way, usually through a taxpayer’s PAYE code or a self-assessment tax return.

Bank of England: Inflation

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of comments by Lord King of Lothbury on the potential impact of the Bank of England's net zero policy on the level of inflation.

Andrew Griffith: The primary objective of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is to maintain price stability. Its secondary objective, to support the economic policy of the Government, is subject to maintaining price stability. Price stability is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth, and will remain the MPC’s primary objective when the Chancellor updates its remit alongside the Autumn Statement. It is for the MPC to judge how it sets monetary policy in line with its remit, and the MPC has our full support as it acts to return inflation to the 2% target.

Financial Services: Standards

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with counterparts in (a) Canada, (b) the European Union and (c) other jurisdictions on alignment of the (i) definition and (ii) interpretation of fiduciary duty.

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support the UK’s investment industry in meeting their fiduciary duty to consumers.

Andrew Griffith: Fiduciary duty – and the role it plays in ensuring that those managing money do so in the best interest of their beneficiaries – is an important part of any successful financial system. The government recognises that investors and pension trustees would like further information and clarity on how best to fulfil their fiduciary duty, particularly in the context of the transition to net zero and investment in productive finance.  That is why the government is supporting further consideration of these issues. The government published a call for evidence on Pension Trustee Skills, Capability and Culture on 11 July which sought to understand whether fiduciary duty contributes to risk avoidance in the investment supply chain, to the detriment of pension savers. We will be publishing our response later this year. In addition, to support investors, DWP committed in the revised Green Finance Strategy to examining how closely their Stewardship Guidance is being followed, including whether incorrect interpretations of fiduciary duties are playing a role in limiting investor’s decision making. Moreover, the Financial Markets and Law Committee – which includes DWP and HMT representatives – is currently considering issues around fiduciary duties and sustainability, and whether further action or clarity from the government or regulators is needed. The government would expect questions around international comparators to be raised as part of these discussions, where those comparisons are relevant. Any additional action or clarity on the definition or interpretation of fiduciary duty will be made in line with UK legislation.

Childcare: Tax Allowances

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor for the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the tax-free childcare allowance, in the the context of increases in the cost of living.

John Glen: Tax-Free Childcare provides financial support for working parents with their childcare costs. For every £8 parents pay into their childcare account, the Government adds £2 up to a maximum of £2,000 in top up per year for each child up to age 11 and up to £4,000 per disabled child until they are 17. The £2,000 Tax-Free Childcare top up has been set at this level because the Government believes it strikes the right balance between helping parents with their childcare costs, and managing the public finances in a responsible way. The Government is committed to supporting parents with their childcare costs. At Spring Budget 2023, the Government announced that it will expand the free childcare hours offer, so that eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year from when their child is 9 months old, to when they start school. Through this expansion, the government will be more than doubling its spend on free hours.

Bank Services: Payments

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the banking sector on (a) pending payments and (b) reimbursement payments for incomplete purchases.

Andrew Griffith: Treasury Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Inflation

Samantha Dixon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place a copy of his Department’s internal projection of the CPI inflation figure for October 2023 in the House of Commons Library.

Andrew Griffith: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government’s official forecaster. The OBR published its most recent economic and fiscal forecasts in March 2023 and will publish an updated projection alongside the Autumn Statement on 22nd November.

Housing: Insurance

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with representatives from home insurance providers on the potential impact of trends in the price of insurance premiums on policyholders.

Andrew Griffith: Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms, conditions or price that they set when offering insurance, informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The Government does not intervene in these commercial decisions by insurers as this could damage competition in the market. However, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA monitors firms to make sure they are providing products that are fair value and has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply.

Interest Rates

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with business on interest rates.

Andrew Griffith: Treasury ministers and officials hold regular discussions with businesses, both individually and through their representative organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, The 100 Group and the British Chambers of Commerce, on a range of issues affecting businesses including interest rates.

Money Laundering

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individual (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Money Laundering Regulations by the Financial Conduct Authority in each year since 2013.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many directors have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Money Laundering Regulations since 2013.

Andrew Griffith: This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government. I have however passed the question to them to answer. The FCA will reply directly to the noble Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Government Securities

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with industry stakeholders on the issuing of a digital gilt.

Andrew Griffith: The government has spoken to numerous industry participants who have supported the development of the government’s practical understanding of the potential advantages of digital ledger technology (DLT) to financial markets, the design choices around the technology’s implementation, and the legal considerations associated with digital securities. We are not actively pursuing an issuance of a DLT sovereign debt instrument at this time. We will continue to monitor market developments relating to the use of DLT within capital markets, including how these may impact the government as a market participant in future.

Hospitality Industry: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increased alcohol duties on the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland.

Gareth Davies: The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-rate-changes#:~:text=At%20the%20current%20VAT%20rate,will%20be%202%20pence%20higher

Freezing of Assets: Libya

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of using frozen Libyan assets to compensate the victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism.

Gareth Davies: The UK Government reiterates its sympathy for UK victims of Qaddafi-sponsored terrorism, and indeed all victims of the Troubles. It is important that the UK Government pursues fairness and consistency in the provision of support to victims of terrorism and access to publicly funded compensation schemes and the UK’s position with regards to victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism was outlined in a Ministerial Statement on 23 March 2021. With regards to using frozen Libyan assets, the Government cannot lawfully use such assets to provide compensation to victims. Doing so would break international law and our obligations as members of the UN.

Treasury: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 20 October 2023 to Question 200249 and of 6 December 2022 to Question 97498 on Treasury: Incentives, for what reason the figures requested cannot be provided.

Gareth Davies: HM Treasury issued £110,560 of non-cash vouchers to its core staff in the 2022-23 financial year. HMRC issued £819,800 of non-cash vouchers to its staff in 2022/23.

Money Laundering

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individual (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have taken place under the Money Laundering Regulations by HMRC in each year since 2013.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many directors have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted by HMRC under the Money Laundering Regulations since 2013.

Victoria Atkins: The majority of businesses supervised by HMRC are compliant and play an important role in our financial system. Those who fail to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations leave themselves, and the UK economy, open to attacks by criminals. HMRC takes a robust approach to non-compliance and uses a wide range of measures to tackle those who breach the regulations, including civil penalties as well as criminal prosecutions. HMRC does not publish the data of the number of prosecutions under the Money Laundering Regulations at this granular level.  Our data system does not filter down to a level that would identify the individual as a director.

Beer

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to support pubs and small breweries.

Victoria Atkins: I refer the hon member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2023 to PQ UIN 203159.

Members: Correspondence

Dave Doogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when HMRC plans to respond to correspondence of 13 June 2023 from the hon. Member for Angus, reference DD9848.

Victoria Atkins: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) received your correspondence on 13 June 2023 and received the further information requested on 20 June 2023. They apologise for the delay in replying. HMRC contacted your constituent on 17 August 2023 and telephoned your office on 25 October 2023 to provide an update on their investigations. They aim to reply as quickly as possible and by 10 November 2023.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Housing: Standards

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will expedite the publication of the (a) technical consultation and (b) impact assessment on the proposed specification for the Future Homes Standard.

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the timing of the publication of the Future Homes Standard technical consultation on the number of new homes that will be built.

Lee Rowley: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Solar Power: Planning Permission

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of giving greater powers to residents who oppose solar farm developments in their area.

Felicity Buchan: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Private Rented Housing: Discrimination

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to use the Renters (Reform) Bill to help tackle discriminatory practices against (a) older people, (b) people in receipt of Housing Benefit and (c) people in receipt of other benefits in the private rented sector.

Rachel Maclean: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Barbecues: Sales

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has held discussions with (a) local authorities, (b) retailers, (c) Keep Britain Tidy and (d) other stakeholders on banning the sale of disposable barbecues.

Lee Rowley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing: Greater London

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the demand for new homes in the Greater London Authority area.

Rachel Maclean: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2022 to Question 97590 on Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Incentives, what the value was of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for his core Department as performance-related bonuses in 2022-23.

Jacob Young: It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Housing Associations: Maladministration

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what proportion of maladministration cases have been due to unreasonable delays from housing associations each of the last 5 years.

Jacob Young: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Chimneys: Repairs and Maintenance

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has taken steps to raise awareness of the NVQ in chimney sweeping among the construction and insurance industries.

Rachel Maclean: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Land Registry

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of digitising the Land Registry.

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using blockchain technology in digitising the land registry.

Rachel Maclean: The Government strongly believes that there are significant opportunities from digitising HM Land Registry (HMLR) and making more information freely-available. HMLR is also committed to promoting digital innovation in the property market. In recent years, it has introduced digital tools relating to electronic signatures and a standard for digital identity solutions. HMLR is working collaboratively with stakeholders in the conveyancing sector and is considering a range of technologies to contribute to a truly digital, automated conveyancing process.Government’s Roadmap to a Digital Future includes digital transformation in Government by “automating manual processes”. Almost 90% of HMLR’s applications are received via digital application routes and the majority of HMLR’s services are already automated. HMLR continues to increase automation to drive greater efficiency and deliver maximum value for the taxpayer, and to increase the proportion of end-to-end digital processes.

Private Rented Housing: Standards

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to introduce a decent homes standard to the private rented sector.

Rachel Maclean: As we have set out previously, we will bring this forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Housing: Courts

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a specialist housing court.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the time taken to process cases by Section 8 tribunals.

Rachel Maclean: I refer the Hon Member to the Renters (Reform) Bill Second Reading, debated on Monday 23 October (Official Report, HC Volume 738, Column 630 ).

Evictions

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to increase the length of the period at the start of a tenancy in which the landlord does not have a guaranteed right to possession from six months to two years.

Rachel Maclean: The Renters (Reform) Bill received its second reading on Monday 23 October.Tenants will have much more security in the new system. Unlike with Section 21, landlords will always need a reason to evict a tenant and be prepared to evidence that reason in court.  Six months strike the right balance between improving security for tenants and ensuring landlords continue to feel confident in the market.

Help to Buy Scheme: Greater London

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to increase the Help to Buy equity loan scheme regional purchase price cap for properties in Greater London.

Rachel Maclean: The Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme closed to new customers on 31 October 2022.

Letting Agents: Regulation

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress his Department has made on implementing the reforms in the Regulation of Property Agents: Working Group Report published 18 July 2019.

Rachel Maclean: The Government is considering the recommendations in the final report on the regulation of property agents from Lord Best's working group. We will continue to work with industry on improving best practice. Announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Sleeping Rough

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2023 to Question 199185 on Sleeping Rough, and with reference to page 36 of his Department’s publication entitled End Rough Sleeping for Good, CP 713, published in September 2022, what steps he has taken to share accountability with devolved Administrations for delivering a strategy on ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament.

Felicity Buchan: This Government remains committed to its goal to end rough sleeping within this Parliament and we need all partners, local and national government, third and private sector, to work together.My Hon Friend may already be aware that each of the devolved administrations has published their own strategies on ending homelessness and rough sleeping. We remain committed to collaborating with the devolved administrations and my officials meet regularly with their counterparts to share best practice.

Sleeping Rough

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to reduce levels of rough sleeping in winter 2023 in (a) England, (b) County Durham and (c) the City of Durham.

Felicity Buchan: In September 2022, we published a bold, new strategy: Ending Rough Sleeping For Good. The strategy sets out cross government action and sets out how we are investing £2 billion over three years to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping. We are investing over £530 million across England over three years through the Rough Sleeping Initiative 22-25. The Rough Sleeping Initiative funding provides local areas the resources to offer accommodation, support, and a route off the streets for people sleeping rough all year-round, including winter 2023. Of this investment the City of Durham was allocated £653,750 and County Durham allocated £3,777,842. A breakdown of allocations by local authority can be found here.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of Afghan refugees who were relocated by his Department from bridging hotels have (a) been placed into temporary accommodation and (b) presented to a local authority as homeless in the last three months.

Felicity Buchan: I refer the Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 203404 on 24 October 2023.

Floods: Grants

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to increase the value available of the (a) Community Recovery Grant and (b) Business Recovery Grant for those who are eligible to receive it under the flood recovery framework.

Jacob Young: We work closely with local authorities to ensure recovery support is provided when appropriate. The current guidance is regularly reviewed and updated as required.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Musicians: EU Nationals

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help music centres to recruit young musicians from Europe for training in the UK.

Sir John Whittingdale: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with Arts Council England and others across the sector to understand the opportunities and challenges facing both inbound and outbound touring musicians. The Government is committed to supporting touring artists and the wider music industry to adapt to new arrangements following our departure from the EU. We have worked with the sector and directly with Member States to clarify what creative workers need to do, noting that the vast majority of EU Member States — including the biggest touring markets such as Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands — have confirmed that they offer visa- and work permit-free routes for some short-term touring activities. The Government has also launched an Export Support Service through which UK businesses, including touring professionals, can access advice and guidance.Arts Council England supports the 4 Nations International Fund, which assists those working in the arts and creative industries across the UK, together with their counterparts in Europe and beyond. Bilateral programmes, such as Cultural Bridge, which helps arts practitioners from the UK and Germany work together, as well as partnerships with the Arts Councils of Norway and Denmark on the International Touring and Environmental Fund, provide further assistance to musicians and music organisations.Arts Council England supports a range of other international activity, including through the Developing Your Creative Practice Programme, the National Lottery Project Grants, and through National Portfolio Organisations — such as the National Centre for Early Music, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Serious/London Jazz Festival, and Wigmore Hall — all of which enable mobility and exchange for young artists across Europe.

Arts and Music: Government Assistance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support arts and music organisations following the UK's departure from Creative Europe.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has of the potential merits of the UK participating in Creative Europe.

Sir John Whittingdale: His Majesty’s Government recognises the great value of the UK’s world-leading creative sectors. The creative industries continue to thrive and are a key high-growth sector of our economy, as well as bringing great joy and wellbeing to people’s lives. The sector contributed £108 billion to the economy in 2021, accounting for 6% of UK GVA, and employed 2.3 million people – 7% of the total UK workforce – with employment growth increasing at almost five times the rate of the economy more widely since 2011.Since leaving the EU, the UK is no longer part of the Creative Europe programme. The Government decided not to seek continued participation in the Creative Europe programme, but to look at other, more targeted ways of supporting the UK’s cultural and creative sectors.The UK Shared Prosperity Fund delivers on a commitment to match EU funding across all four nations of the UK and gives local people control of how their money is spent, removing unnecessary bureaucracy and enabling them to invest in the cultural organisations that particularly matter to them.Similarly, the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund invests in local infrastructure projects which improve life for people across the UK, focusing on regeneration, local transport, and supporting cultural, creative and heritage assets. The second round of the Fund was announced in January 2023, and included more than £16 million for a new Production Village in Hartlepool, for instance, providing new jobs and opportunities in the creative industries and boosting the local economy.Arts Council England supports the Four Nations International Fund, launched in 2021. This supports people working in the arts and creative industries across the UK, together with their counterparts in Europe and beyond.This is in addition to support given through the Government's extension of the higher rates of theatre and orchestra tax relief for a further two years, as announced at the last Budget. This extension will continue to offset ongoing pressures and boost investment in our cultural sectors. Collectively, the two-year extension to the higher rates of theatre, orchestra and museums tax reliefs is estimated to be worth £350m over the five-year forecast period.To support independent screen content – including film – to grow internationally, the Government launched the UK Global Screen Fund in April 2021 with initial funding of £7 million. We have committed a further £21 million to this Fund over the period 2022–25 to develop, distribute, and promote independent UK screen content in international markets.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2022 to Question 97596 on Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Incentives, what the value was of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for her core Department as performance-related bonuses in 2022-23.

Sir John Whittingdale: Attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled individuals is essential for the Civil Service to deliver for the British people. This is why pay must be fair and competitive as well as affordable to the taxpayer. Performance-related bonuses and vouchers are a key part of this, and are standard practice across government.During the financial year period of 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023, DCMS awarded a total of £138,500 in non cash vouchers to staff.

Television Licences: Older People

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people over the age of 75 have been subject to court action for the non-payment of TV Licence in each of the last five years.

Sir John Whittingdale: Collecting and enforcing the Licence Fee is the responsibility of the BBC. The BBC has recently confirmed that no enforcement action has been taken against over-75s for TV licence evasion at this stage.The Government has been clear that the BBC must ensure that it supports those affected by its decision on the over-75s concession, and we expect them to do so with the utmost sensitivity.

Television: Rural Areas

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure access to digital terrestrial television in rural communities.

Sir John Whittingdale: The Government remains committed to digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology which underpins Freeview. Millions of households across the UK rely on DTT, particularly rural communities and older people.While Freeview currently reaches nearly 99% of UK households, good terrestrial television signals may not be available to all households due to a number of factors such as local topography and spectrum availability. In these cases, Everyone TV – the organisation responsible for the day-to-day running of Freeview – advises that viewers consider other options to access free-to-air television such as the satellite service Freesat, which has total coverage in the UK.The Government recognises the crucial role that DTT services such as Freeview play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available and free-to-air to all audiences. For these reasons, we have legislated to secure the continuity of DTT until at least 2034.We have also recently launched a major research and engagement programme looking at how UK audiences will get their TV in the decades to come, including digital terrestrial television (DTT), satellite, cable, and online.Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.

Public Records: Digital Technology

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to support the digitisation of (a) census records and (b) other national archives.

Sir John Whittingdale: On 6 January 2022, the 1921 Census for England and Wales was launched by Findmypast in partnership with The National Archives, following the transfer of the records from the Office for National Statistics. It was the largest transcription and digitisation project ever completed by The National Archives, consisting of more than 30,000 bound volumes of original documents stored on almost one linear mile of shelving.The National Archives actively seeks to publish digitised content if it is not being published through partners. The Department for Culture, Media & Sport also assists the wider archive sector in this area by enabling organisations to promote their own content via its ‘Manage Your Collections’ service. Furthermore, The National Archives actively targets philanthropic and grant funding to increase the availability of collections through digitisation, which align with HM Government’s strategic and policy priorities.

National Archives: Access

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase the accessibility of the national archives.

Sir John Whittingdale: The National Archives is committed to increasing the accessibility of the records in its care.This includes, over the next four years, expanding its collection through the absorption of the Parliamentary Archives and c.10 million Ministry of Defence service personnel records, increasing its visitor numbers by 50 per cent, doubling the number of participants in its learning programmes, and investing in the skills, capability and infrastructure needed to support its mission over the long term.To increase accessibility to its collection, The National Archives has also been creating digital images of its records since the mid-1990s. The vast majority of these digital images, approximately 138 million, have been created in partnership with commercial companies through its licensing programme.The National Archives also has a significant online engagement programme, with its content being available both nationally and internationally online.

Cultural Heritage: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government provides funding tor historical sites significant to British history in (a) France, (b) Malta and (c) Cyprus.

Sir John Whittingdale: HM Government does not routinely provide funding for historical sites outside the UK or the Overseas Territories.In some cases, particularly with reference to war memorials, HM Government can contribute towards funding together with the host country. This was the case with the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, inaugurated in 2019.Historical sites in other countries – including France, Malta and Cyprus – are the responsibility of that country to maintain.

Sports: Finance

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding the Government provides to grassroots sports clubs in England.

Stuart Andrew: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their age or background, is able to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that sport and physical activity provide.We know that active people are fitter, happier and healthier - which is why in our new Sport Strategy - 'Get Active’ - we set out an ambitious strategy to boost our national health by getting 3.5 million extra active people by 2030. To help achieve this, Government is investing over £300 million between 2021 and 2025 to make essential facility improvements at grassroots sports clubs.In 2021/22, 177 grassroots facilities projects across the UK were supported through the Football Foundation in England and the Football Associations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes the creation or resurfacing of over 80 artificial grass pitches, over 20 grass pitch improvements, and other projects such as changing rooms, floodlights and goalposts. Over 1,600 sites benefitted from funding in 2022/23 across a similar range of projects, improving both provision and quality of pitches.We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arms Length Body, Sport England. Every year, Sport England invests over £250 million of National Lottery and public money to help people engage in sport and physical activity. Funding pots like the Small Grants and the Active Together programme offer over £18 million of funding for grassroots clubs across England to help get local communities active and to support clubs through specific issues such as adverse weather.

Gambling: Advertising

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to regulate the advertising of gambling (a) to young and (b) other people.

Stuart Andrew: His Majesty’s Government recognises that, while millions of people gamble online without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences. It is particularly important to take steps to protect young people from risks associated with problem online gambling.There are robust rules in place to ensure that gambling advertising is socially responsible and cannot be targeted at or strongly appeal to children. Gambling advertising is covered by the UK Advertising Codes which are regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority, and there are also specific Gambling Commission licence conditions which regulate how gambling operators advertise. The UK Advertising Codes were further strengthened last year with new protections for children and vulnerable adults.Earlier this year, we published the white paper on gambling which outlined a comprehensive package of reforms to make gambling safer. This included measures to tackle the most aggressive and harmful advertising practices by preventing bonuses being constructed and targeted in harmful ways, giving customers more control over the marketing they receive, and introducing messaging on the risks associated with gambling. The Commission has already consulted on improving marketing consents, and we are working closely with them and others to bring the changes into force as quickly as possible.

Local Press: Sustainable Development

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the number of journalists on the sustainability of local media reporting.

Sir John Whittingdale: We are working to support journalism and local newsrooms to ensure the sustainability of this vital industry.This includes our new digital markets regime, which will help rebalance the relationship between online platforms and those who rely on them – including local press publishers.Additionally, our support for the sector has included the delivery of the £2 million Future News Fund; the zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers; the extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025; the publication of the Online Media Literacy Strategy; and the BBC also supports the sector directly, through the £8m it spends each year on the Local News Partnership, including the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

Television: Sports

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring the digital terrestrial broadcast of international sporting events; and if she will make it her policy to continue digital terrestrial television beyond 2034.

Sir John Whittingdale: The Government remains committed to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology which underpins Freeview. Millions of households across the UK, including in Scotland, rely on DTT. This is particularly true of rural communities and older people.We also recognise the crucial role that DTT services play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available and free-to-air to all audiences.For these reasons, the Government has already legislated to secure the continuity of DTT until at least 2034.As the sector evolves, it is right that we continue to evaluate the future distribution of television services. To that end, and as set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government has asked Ofcom to continue to track changes in DTT viewing and to undertake an early review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025.We have also recently launched a major research and engagement programme looking at how UK audiences will get their TV in the decades to come, including DTT, satellite, cable, and online.Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Community Energy Fund: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new Community Energy Fund on people living in Romford constituency.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the value was of non-cash vouchers awarded to staff working for her core Department as performance-related bonuses in 2022-23.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many miners were recipients of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (a) in Easington Constituency and (b) nationally in October 2023.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many miners' widows were recipients of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (a) in Easington constituency and (b) nationally in October 2023.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Insulation: Housing

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to take steps to encourage the installation of insulation in student housing.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Offshore Industry: Licensing

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when she plans to decide the outcome of the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to my Rt hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Offshore Industry: Licensing

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department's policy is on a 34th Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to my Rt hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Landfill: Carbon Emissions

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the Climate Change Committee's recommendations on (a) methane capture and (b) oxidation rates at landfill sites in its Sixth Carbon Budget Waste Report, published 4 December 2020; and if she will make a statement.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Offshore Industry: Storms

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of Storm Babet on operations in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Offshore Industry: Storms

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the number of offshore oil and gas workers that were affected by the suspension of helicopter transport services as a result of Storm Babet.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Heat Pumps: Skilled Workers

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of how many people are qualified to fit heat pumps; and if he will make a statement.

Graham Stuart: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Energy: Meters

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people in rural areas who do not have smart meter coverage are not left without heat and hot water when the radio teleswitching service is turned off.

Amanda Solloway: Discussions are underway with radio teleswitching service (RTS) providers to secure its ongoing operation into 2025, beyond the end of the current contractual period ending March 2024. The Government expects energy suppliers to upgrade households with RTS to smart meters as soon as possible. Households should contact their energy supplier who are best placed to advise based on knowledge of individual circumstances, including solutions for where smart meter coverage is not available. Government is also working with the Data Communications Company on technical solutions to extend smart metering Wide Area Network coverage for those currently unable to receive it.

Electricity: Standing Charges

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 201507 on Electricity: Standing Charges, what benefit OFGEM allocates to areas where energy is (a) produced and (b) landed.

Amanda Solloway: The way in which network charges are set, including questions about how network charges reflect where energy is produced and landed, is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator.

Northern Ireland Office

Monuments: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to provide funding for the installation of the Northern Ireland Centenary Stone.

Mr Steve Baker: The UK Government provided £3m of New Decade, New Approach funding to support the marking of the 2021 Centenary. This UK Government funding was used to successfully deliver a wide-ranging programme of events that reflected on Northern Ireland’s history, on the people, and showcased what makes Northern Ireland a great place to live. The installation and funding of a Centenary Stone is a devolved matter and one which should be decided by a restored functioning Northern Ireland Executive.